Autoliv Alcohol Sensor Enters Next Phase
(Stockholm, January 11, 2012) – – – Autoliv Inc. – the global leader in automotive safety systems – today announced that it has been selected as a partner to participate in the second phase of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) research program co-sponsored by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), representing many of the leading automakers.
The Autoliv approach uses a non-obtrusive system to measure the alcohol content in the breath of the driver to estimate blood alcohol content (BAC). This is accomplished by applying infrared (IR) spectroscopy as the principle sensing technology. This technology offers the potential for high sensitivity and system reliability at a reasonable cost with low on-going maintenance.
“We are excited to be selected by ACTS and NHTSA to apply our technology in demonstration vehicles for real-world testing” stated Hakan Pettersson, Project Manager for Autoliv. “We are not yet ready for prime-time, however we are confident that we will overcome the challenges with applying advanced technology in the automotive environment ” added Pettersson.
NHTSA estimates that one third of all traffic fatalities in the US involve alcohol-impaired drivers. “What these advanced alcohol-detection technologies will do is to prevent anyone from operating a motor vehicle if their BAC is at or above the U.S. legal limit of 0.08 percent,” said Susan A. Ferguson, DADSS program manager. This technology has the potential to save an estimated 8,000 lives a year.' adds Ferguson. Research indicates that the public is ready for such a device. Two‐thirds of those surveyed considered the use of advanced technology to keep drunk drivers off the roads to be a “good” or “very good” idea.
This phase of the project is expected to be completed within two years.
Inquiries:
Hakan Pettersson, Project Manager Alcohol Sensing, Autoliv Research +46 322 62 63 38
Jan Olsson, Vice President Research, Autoliv Inc +46 322 62 62 60
About Autoliv
Autoliv Inc., the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv has 80 facilities with approximately 48,000 employees in 28 vehicle-producing countries. In addition, the Company has technical centers in eleven countries around the world, with 21 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales for the last twelve-month period period amounted to US $8.1 billion. The Company's shares are listed on the New YorkStock Exchange (NYSE: ALV) and its Swedish Depository Receipts on the OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm(ALIV sdb). For more information about Autoliv, please visit our company website at www.autoliv.com.
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