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Technology to Prevent Impaired Crashes (TOPIC)

Recognizing the magnitude of the alcohol-related motor vehicle crash problem and that declines in these rates have stalled for the last decade, NHTSA's Office of Human-Vehicle Performance Research tasked the Volpe Center to identify current and emerging technologies to monitor driver impairment due to alcohol. NHTSA tasked the Volpe Center to assess current and emerging technologies to monitor driver impairment. Detection technologies may have the potential to prevent death and injury by monitoring blood alcohol content (BAC) level and/or driving performance for signs of impairment, and, if impairment is present, either warn the driver or take other actions to prevent a crash. Taking an international perspective, the Volpe Center reviewed relevant literature, interviewed stakeholders, and drafted a concept of operations to describe how to implement technology-based countermeasures that addressed concerns such as privacy, public acceptance, and legal issues. The report summarizes the results of an evaluation of the capability of vehicular technologies to reduce impaired driving.

• Review of Technology to Prevent Alcohol-Impaired Crashes (TOPIC) (PDF, 985KB)

The Volpe Center presented the preliminary results of its review of existing and emerging technologies to the "Blue Ribbon Panel for the Development of Advanced Alcohol Detection Technologies" in July 2006. Panel members represent the automotive industry, insurers, advocacy groups and NHTSA.

• Vehicle Technologies to Prevent Crashes Involving Alcohol-Impaired Drivers (PDF, 488KB)

For More Information, Contact:

John K. Pollard
Human Factors Division, RTV-4G
Volpe National Transportation System Center
55 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617/494-3537
Fax: 617/494-3622
E-mail: john.k.pollard@volpe.dot.gov