Seeing Machines Introduces Innovative Driver Impairment Detection Technology

As people gathered in Washington, D.C. to honor those affected by drunk driving, Seeing Machines made a significant announcement regarding their Driver Monitoring System (DMS) technology. This revolutionary capability can now detect driver impairment specifically related to alcohol consumption, expanding their existing focus on preventing distracted and drowsy driving.

Seeing Machines, headquartered in Canberra, Australia, has equipped over 3.7 million vehicles with its DMS. Driven by the need for enhanced safety, they collaborated with industry experts to develop this groundbreaking detection capability. Dr. Mike Lenné, Chief Safety Officer at Seeing Machines, emphasized that this detection feature meets the rigorous standards set by the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for alcohol detection.

The timing of the announcement aligns with the 45th anniversary of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), underscoring the urgent need to address impaired driving effectively. As Dr. Lenné pointed out, “Mitigating risks of drunk driving is now a policy decision, not a technological one.” With alarming statistics indicating that a staggering 67% of fatalities due to alcohol impairment involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher, the importance of this technology cannot be overstated.

In the U.S., DMS technology primarily focuses on helping drivers maintain engagement while using hands-free driving systems, such as Ford's Blue Cruise and GM's Super Cruise. As regulations evolve, particularly in Europe where systems must now identify driver impairment not only related to fatigue but also to alcohol, a consistent approach to address these issues is required.

Starting in 2026, the European Union mandates that all automotive manufacturers incorporate this technology into their vehicles. Seeing Machines’ adaptation of its DMS technology accomplishes precisely that goal, providing detection accuracy for a BAC range from .05 to significantly higher levels. The most reliable measurements occur in the .10 range and beyond, where impairment risk sharply increases.

In a series of phases proposed in 2024 to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Seeing Machines laid out a roadmap for DMS integration:
1. Phase One: The system alerts the driver when impairment is detected, prompting them to pull over.
2. Phase Two: Vehicle safety systems are activated in response to detected impairment, becoming more robust and visible.
3. Phase Three: The vehicle may initiate strict measures, including limiting infotainment functionalities and entering a reduced speed mode, commonly referred to as