Japanese automaker Nissan has announced that they will start running tests on a new technology that would prevent drink-driving. This is in cooperation with local authorities in Japan.

Nissan is currently engaging itself in the development of an array of technologies that would greatly improve road safety by preventing drink-driving. It was just in June that the Japanese automaker launched a new message alert against drink-driving through its CARWINGS navigation system.

This new safety technology has the ability to detect alcohol level on the driver’ breath. This way, if it is able to detect traces of alcohol that’s more than the specified level, the “interlock” system will automatically disable the car’s ignition.

They will be testing this new on-board technology together with Kitakyushu city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Tochigi Prefectural Government and Kaminokawa town, and Atsugi city Kanagawa Prefecture.

They will be putting this innovative system in already daily-operating vehicles and the ones driving these will monitor its functionality in being a reliable alcohol-detection. Once the system is sure that the alcohol level is under the specifies level, then it will allow the driver to start the car without hassle.

Nissan will then be using the results to further develop and research their prevention of drink-driving.

The Alcohol Detection System

Nissan has already started committing itself to building vehicles that are incorporated with the latest in safety technology. The automaker’s safety vision in Japan is to lessen the number of traffic and road accidents by 50 percent by the time 2015 comes around the corner.

For that to be accomplished, Nissan is taking holistic approaches towards safety that is not just confined to the incorporated technologies in their vehicles. The company has also embarked on the “Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to achieve their vision of having a safe environment to drive in. This is in Kanagawa Prefecture and its main goal is to help decrease accidents on the road through the analysis of data gathered from the on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. Also, Nissan is engaged in different road safety campaigns targeting both adults and children and they also continue to cooperate with their partner from the private and government sectors.