EU mandates alcohol‑sensing start‑stop systems for new cars

Starting 1 July, all new passenger cars sold in the European Union must be equipped with an alcohol‑detection system that prevents the engine from starting if the driver has consumed alcohol. The measure is part of the EU’s road‑safety plan to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050. Manufacturers can integrate the technology in different ways, such as a breath‑sensor that the driver blows into, in‑cabin sensors that analyse exhaled air, or infrared cameras that monitor facial cues.

Initially the system will be optional for manufacturers, with the cost likely passed to consumers. Cosmin Vâlcu, a sales manager, said: “In the first phase, this system will be an option and later, if a European law follows, it may become mandatory, with a cost of a few hundred euros for the final client.” The technology is already used on public transport in Bucharest and in several EU states—including Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Denmark—where drivers can avoid license suspension by installing such devices. Experts estimate that the systems could reduce fatal alcohol‑related accidents by up to 65 %.