The European Commission wants all cars to include breathalyzers and other forms of technology designed to make driving a much safer experience.
Alcohol interlock devices are installed on a car's dashboard and designed to keep drivers safe by having them breathe into the device to make sure they haven't been drinking too much before starting the car, according to Reuters. The tool has the potential to prevent numerous deaths on the road, about a quarter of which the European Commission believes are related to alcohol.
Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands and other countries in the EU have started rehabilitation programs for convicted drunk-drivers that involve the use of these breathalyzers.
Technology designed to make driving safe, especially for teenagers, already exists in the form of Ford's MyKey and the 2016 Chevy Malibu's Teen Driver system.
The problem the European Union currently faces with the technology is that there are currently no standard sockets for plugging these devices into vehicles and connecting them to the ignition, Reuters reported. The Commission said in the report that a "standard interface" for alcohol interlocks would allow it to make the devices a part of cars made in the future.
One of the risks of fitting these breathalyzers into vehicles is that it gives hackers a chance to take control of the car. The Commission received criticism for the proposal from the Association of European Carmakers (ACEA), which suggested that it would be more effective and cost less time if automakers gave installers standardized information on how to fit interlock devices into cars.
"A standard interface would introduce risks, costs and delays that could be avoided with a standardized installation document," said ACEA spokeswoman Cara McLaughlin.
However, the European Transport Safety Council argued that automakers won't be able to effectively prevent drunk-driving or have an impact on installation costs just by providing information, Reuters reported.
The European Commission's "General Safety Regulation" is expected to go under review next year, which presents a chance for the EU to make it mandatory for alcohol interlock devices and other safety features to be fitted in all cars.
