Seeing Machines has announced the latest advance in its Driver Monitoring System (DMS) technology, which has expanded beyond its existing ability to identify distraction and drowsiness, and now detects driver impairment caused by alcohol.
Seeing Machines has adapted its DMS technology to detect alcohol impairment ranging from .05 blood alcohol content (BAC) to higher levels, where risk continually increases. The highest level of accuracy and precision occurs when drivers are in the .10 BAC range or higher.
“For years our technology, now in over 3.7 million cars and over 60,000 trucks today, has been capable of detecting and preventing distracted and drowsy driving,” said Seeing Machines chief safety officer, Dr Mike Lenné. “After extensive research, development and rigorous testing, we are now able to detect other forms of impairment, including impairment from alcohol, to the level currently required by European NCAP standards for alcohol detection.”
In the US, DMS has primarily been used to maintain driver engagement during hands-free driving, in systems like Ford’s Blue Cruise and General Motors’ Super Cruise. The European Union now requires these systems to detect driver distraction and fatigue for safety and, starting from 2026, they must also detect driver impairment from non-fatigue causes, including alcohol use. The US aims to align with global standards and meet congressional requirements by implementing DMS technology in all vehicles.
“The science is in, the research and development has been done,” said Dr Lenné. “Mitigating risks of drunk driving is now a policy decision, not a technological one.”
In related news, Mobileye introduces driver monitoring system
