Volvo Developed A Breathalyzer Seatbelt

The road of automotive innovation is littered with bizarre ideas, including fairly recent ones like Volvo’s idea for a combination seatbelt and breathalyzer. What was created out of a concern for driver safety turned into something which would be at best annoying and at worst a technology which could leave innocent people stranded.

Watch a Volvo XC90 driver saved from a car accident’s wreckage just in time.

Most people have also forgotten that in the Infrastructure Bill passed a few years ago, the Department of Transportation was to explore some sort of breathalyzer installed in all vehicles. The idea was to prevent intoxicated people from operating a car. That seems like a noble cause considering how many people are seriously hurt and even killed by drunk drivers.

But there are probably some good reasons why Volvo’s push died long before anything market-ready was created. A press release issued by the automaker back on August 25, 2005 boldly explains how an experimental car the company was showcasing has a breathalyzer integrated into the driver’s seatbelt buckle.

Before being able to start the engine, the driver would have to blow into a mouthpiece integrated into the rather large buckle. If the test came back as negative, and the seatbelt was fastened, then the driver could start the engine.

There are a few issues with a setup like this. First off, seatbelt buckles aren’t exactly clean. Can you imagine putting your mouth on one? That’s just disgusting.

Second, it’s possible to not be intoxicated and still not pass a breathalyzer. That can depend on different factors, including food or other items you’ve consumed right before blowing into one. Plus, devices can malfunction. Someone who isn’t intoxicated could be stranded for no fault of their own.

Also, other forms of intoxication apart from alcohol can’t be detected using a breathalyzer. Drivers who are high could start up their vehicle no problem, yet they can still cause serious accidents.

Plus, can you imagine having to do this procedure every time you start your car’s engine? It would be tedious and after a while rather annoying.

One piece of technology featured in Volvo’s experimental car did make it to the market eventually. The company found a way for parents to limit the speed a vehicle can travel base on which key is used for the ignition. Ther are a few automakers which offer such a speed limiting function for younger drivers, along with sound system volume parameters. Some even provide feedback on how the driver uses turn signals and other safety-related items.

But we hope a breathalyzer seatbelt buckle or something similar doesn’t make an appearance on consumer cars anytime soon, even though the motivation behind such a device can be noble.

Image via Volvo Cars