The Mandatory In-Car Breathalyzer Is Only a Few Years Away

Starting in a few years, all new vehicles sold in the U.S. must have the ability to passively detect when drivers are under the influence of alcohol. If they are drunk, the system has to immobilize the car. If this sounds a bit sudden, it actually isn’t. According to Automotive News, the rule was hidden in the depths of President Biden’s $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from late 2021, but by next year a final rule must be issued on the new regulation.

In case you missed it:

• Consumer Reports’ 18 Most Satisfying New Vehicles to Own

• Tesla Sells Out of Steering Wheels as Owners Rush to Replace Yokes

• AWD RX-7 vs. Trackhawk, GR Yaris-Powered AE86: The Best Automotive Videos on YouTube This Week

There’s just one real problem: that piece of technology doesn’t really exist yet for a commercialized application. Because of this, the automotive industry as a whole is reportedly trying to quickly come up with the technology. So far, only one company has a bit of a leg up on the rest of the automotive landscape.

Read more

• These Are Your Guilty Pleasure Cars

• The 15 Most Successful Formula 1 Cars of All Time

• These Cars Should Never Have Been Killed Off

Asahi Kasei, a Japanese chemical and electronics company, has serendipitously had a Swedish subsidiary working on alcohol detection sensors for other applications for a quarter century, according to AutoNews. The company is now working with automakers, Tier 1 suppliers and government agencies in order to move the technology into commercial feasibility as fast as possible. Mike Franchy, the company’s director of North American mobility, said the new law could ask manufacturers to see the alcohol-detection feature on the road as early as 2026.