Speaking of Saab being quirky .....



http://motoring.reuters.co.uk/reuters/vocmain.jsp?lnk=101&id=1194


Saab Breathalyser Launched
Thu 9 Jun, 2005, 16:35

This time last year, we reported on a built-in breathalyser being developed by Saab. Now the system is going on trial in Sweden. The Alcokey concept is an adaptation of existing anti-theft technology. When the driver presses the 'doors open' button on the car's remote control fob, the alcohol sensor is also switched on. The driver then blows into a small mouthpiece at the end of the fob to provide a breath sample which is analysed and a small green or red light on the fob is illuminated. The car will only start if a green light comes on.

Saab's idea is to have the system available as an option within two years. To make the system viable, governments and insurance companies will have to offer incentives to encourage people to buy the option. How they then stop iniebriated drivers persuading sober friends to blow into the device is another question.

When these devices have been fitted to cars by court order, the car will start when an alcohol free breath sample is blown in, then at random time intervals as the car is being driven along it'll ask for a new sample or cut the engine. I guess some ingeneous alcoholic could use a compressed air line to get around even this :(

i'd hate to be on the interstate when the random-interval sample request kicks in. (or, rather, they'd program it for when the car is stopped, but not in an intersection. ...etc.)