According to EU statistics, 25 per cent of fatal road accident in Europe are linked in some way to drink driving. It's a frightening statistic and one which the Swedish carmaker, Saab, is working to alleviate. The firm is developing a miniature "breathalyzer" in a key fob which would prevent a driver from starting the engine if necessary.
The "Alcokey" has a small mouthpiece into which the driver blows after unlocking the car. The breath sample passes down a tube with a tiny semi-conductor sensor.
If a green light illuminates, the key sends an "all-clear" to the electronic control unit. If the light is red, the engine stays immobilised. The key's software can be adjusted to different alcohol limits.
Tests are underway for a Saab 9-5 model. The key is expected to cost about €250, or a tenth of the cost of a fixed system installed in the car.
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