Saab's New Alcokey Could Save Up to Thirty-Two Percent of Canadian Lives

Alcokey Engineers Trying to Make Remote Device Smaller to Increase Convenience

It's a sobering thought: the moment a drunk driver gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, it's turned into a potential weapon.

The newly developed Saab "Alcokey" system acts much like a miniature breathalyzer. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

According to Transport Canada, 32 percent of all drivers killed in car accidents on Canadian roads last year were attributed to drunk driving, and according to the NHTSA, nearly 51 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the U.S. last year were attributed to alcohol. This tragic problem does not lie solely in North America, with 25 percent of all drivers killed in Europe and 29 percent of all drivers killed on Swedish roads being attributed to driving while under the influence of alcohol.

These chilling statistics often echoed through the media are just a few of the sources prompting Saab to develop a device to assist new car owners stay safely within the legal limits for blood alcohol levels while behind the wheel. The Saab "Alcokey" system acts much like a miniature breathalyzer, and has the ability to immobilize the vehicle's motor if the driver's breath exposes alcohol exceeding legal levels.

The concern mounted by large-scale company fleet operators with employees driving long distances wishing to demonstrate

When the driver of the vehicle goes to unlock it via the key fob, the alcohol sensor in the Alcokey is activated and the car is immediately immobilized. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

their social responsibility has driven Saab to test and develop the system on the 9-5 model.

In addition to carrying the standard keyless entry fob, cars equipped with Alcokey would feature a second fob with an attached mouthpiece. When the driver of the vehicle goes to unlock it via the key fob, the alcohol sensor in the Alcokey is activated and the car is immediately immobilized. In order for the vehicle to be mobilized, the driver must then blow into the mouthpiece to provide a breath sample, which then passes by a pinhead sized semi-conductor prior to being analyzed. A small red or green light will then illuminate on the fob, displaying the results.