Unfortunately, whether we like to admit it or not, road crashes have become more and more common, for numerous reasons. One of the most common ones is due to drunk driving, which has become a serious problem.
Those who drive under the influence, are not only capable of causing serious injuries to themselves (and anyone else on the road), but death too! That’s exactly why it’s of huge importance to think of solutions that are going to decrease the risks of road accidents, and, at the same time, make roads safer.
There are various tools that can be utilized to prevent drunk drivers from driving, and today, we are going to discuss the ones that may truly change things for the better. So let’s get familiar with potentially revolutionary solutions.
Let’s Begin With Ignition Interlock Device
If there’s one technological innovation that will ensure that people are protected from drunk drivers, it’s the ignition interlock device. So what can be said about it? It represents a tool that’s installed in a car, which demands from driver to submit a breath sample before they start driving.
If by any chance, it detects that that individual has a certain amount of alcohol (that’s above the permitted), then they are not going to be able to start their engine. What’s great about this tool, is that it turned out to be extremely efficient when it comes to decreasing a drunk driving accident, by preventing drunk drivers from operating their automobiles. A lot of states are already employing this device precisely due to the excellent results it provides.
Another huge advantage of this tool is the fact that they are pretty simple to use, and doesn’t require law enforcement to enforce it. If it concludes that the driver is intoxicated, it simply won’t turn on the auto, which means that it’s going to efficiently prevent the potential issue.
In other words, with a solution of this type, you do not need to make use of police officers. Several reports have shown that ignition interlock devices have prevented over two million people from sitting behind the wheel when drunk since 2006.
That number is probably a lot higher right now since these reports were published more than six years ago.
Relying On The Smartphone Apps As Well!
The online world is flooded with a variety of different apps, intended for different purposes. Finally, app manufacturers have realized how great it would be if they developed something that’s going to greatly reduce vehicle accidents, so they thought of apps that can actually contribute to that.
If you aren’t familiar with them, then just keep reading because below, we’re about to mention some:
- Alcohoot – This app converts your cell phone into a breathalyzer. Although it’s not going to forbid the drunk driver to turn on the engine, if it showcases that the BAC is above the allowed limit, hopefully, they’ll immediately give up driving or at least allow someone who isn’t drunk to drive instead.
- DrinkControl – This app was designed to help you track the amount of alcohol you had. It then provides you with an estimate of your BAC levels. Even though you cannot rely on this app one hundred percent, since it’s not that precise, it can still tell you if it’s safe to operate your four-wheeler or not.
- Endui – This is for sure a real beast when it comes to apps of this kind. Namely, it contains a blood alcohol calculator, contact lists that drivers can utilize, and taxi numbers. Besides that, it also comes with reflex games that are going to determine if you are too drunk to drive, or not.
Aside from all these above-mentioned apps, manufacturers have also developed a variety of different apps to, in a way, reward safe driving. The most popular ones include Drive Safe.ly, LifeSaver, and iOnRoad.
All of these apps were made with one purpose, and that is to reward anyone who practices safe driving, by not employing their mobile phones while driving, or driving too fast.
The Benefits Of Alcohol Detection Systems
Here’s another tool that is designed to prevent vehicle accidents that were caused by careless, drunk drivers. So how does it work? Namely, it comes with an alcohol sensor that is employed to monitor a person’s breath and continuously sends signals directly to the microcontroller.
As soon as the microcontroller detects that the driver has too much alcohol, it instantly provides real-time alerts. By incorporating these devices into vehicles, people can significantly decrease road accidents.
Speaking of this device, besides the method that was previously mentioned, there’s another one that is frequently used whenever it wants to prevent a person from turning on the engine while drunk.
So how does it work? It is, in fact, based on touch, which means that the driver should place their fingers on the sensor on the ignition button, or the car’s gear shit. Once they do it, the sensors are going to scan the surface of their skin so they can properly gauge the BAC levels.
Moving On To Ridesharing Apps
Ridesharing services are nothing new. In fact, they have been around for approximately fifteen years, ever since Uber entered our world. There are numerous benefits to these types of services.
Not only are they a cost-effective way to get around, but they also prevent people from driving while intoxicated. Furthermore, Lyft and Uber have decided to take things to the next level as far as this is concerned, by providing people with rides that are free of charge during major holidays, like New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, etc.
That’s because they are aware of the fact that people drink even more on these special days. And then you have an app called Street Clear which offers a ride to people who are under the influence, with the goal to help them come home safely.
Drunk driving still remains one of the biggest problems worldwide because it has taken so many lives over the past couple of decades. But on a more positive note, maybe these tools might just be the solution to this issue and help us drastically reduce vehicle accidents.
