Very cool news from Toyota: The company is developing a car that could detect drunk driving and shut down.

From the AP story:

“Cars fitted with the detection system will not start if sweat sensors in the driving wheel detect high levels of alcohol in the driver’s bloodstream, according to a report carried by the mass-circulation daily, Asahi Shimbun.”

Question, though. Cars are already made so you can turn on the ignition electronically with a remote — why not just attach said remote to a breathalyzer? You’d have to blow below the legal limit for the car to turn on, no bizarre sensors needed.

And this sounds just plain dangerous:

“The system could also kick in if the sensors detect abnormal steering, or if a special camera shows that the driver’s pupils are not in focus. The car is then slowed to a halt, the report said.”

Hope that never happens on a bridge in bad weather!

On the whole the car could be quite helpful, however, as drunk driving is a huge cause of death in many states. People who know they have problems could buy the cars to keep them safe when they’re not thinking clearly. Particularly if Toyota comes up with an installable system (as opposed to one you’d have to buy a new car to get), it could even be a parole requirement or punishment for those caught driving drunk.

Also, you have to love private enterprise. States have been playing around with drunk driving laws for decades — lowering the legal blood alcohol content limit to .08, occasionally hiking penalties, etc. — but it’s a commercial product that might prove most effective. This chart is helpful for state-by-state driving penalties; it seems most drunk drivers just get fines for severely endangering the lives of others.

Robert VerBruggen blogs at http://www.therationale.com and http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com.