Breath Measurement Instrumentation as Alcohol Safety Interlock Systems

Details

• Creators:
  Bray, Kenneth J. ; Huntley, M. Stephen, Jr.
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian Research ; John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Alcohol breath tests
  • Alcohol ignition interlock devices
  • Drunk driving
  • Equipment tests
  • Field tests
  • Human subject testing
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-HS 506/R5403
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1524904
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Interim report; July 1973 to March 1974
• Corporate Publisher:
  Transportation Systems Center
• Abstract:
  This report describes the results of field tests of in-car instruments which measure alcohol on the driver's breath and prevent him from operating his vehicle if intoxicated. Two types of breath alcohol sensors were used for these tests; a fuel-cell type developed by TSC, and a semiconductor type from the Borg-Warner Corporation. Eight vehicles were equipped with the breath measurement and instrumentation and given to volunteer subjects. Subjects returned to TSC weekly to allow calibration checks of the instrumentation, determination of their reaction to the devices and discussion of any attempts to circumvent the breath test interlock. The results of the field test indicate that breath measurement interlocks are basically feasible, but that more engineering effort needs to be expended to advance the alcohol sensor technology required for the production of sensors with uniform and predictable characteristics. The utility of currently available sensors is limited by erratic calibration drift. The field test also indicates circumvention to be a major problem and solutions to the problem do not appear to be cost effective.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1127/dot_1127_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.83 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center ; NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:37eaeeec17841b7096e30eda34ba026d509d3ebb468fbe83c774beb36b0b8441