Japanese Car Keeps Watch for Drunk Drivers
A concept car developed by Japanese company Nissan1 has a breathalyzer-like detection system and other instruments that could help keep drunk or over tired drivers off the road.
The car’s sensors check odors inside the car and monitor a driver’s sweat for traces of alcohol.An in-car computer system can issue an alert or even lock up the ignition system if the driver seems over-the-limit.The air odor sensors are fixed firmly and deeply in the driver
and passenger seats，while a detector in the gear-shift knob measures perspiration from the driver’s palm.
Other carmakers have developed similar detection systems. For example，Sweden’s Volvo2 has developed a breathalyzer attached to a car’s seat belt that drivers must blow into before the engine will start.
Nissan’s new concept vehicle also includes a dashboard-mounted camera that tracks a drivers alertness by monitoring their eyes.It will sound an alarm and issue a spoken warning in Japanese or English if it judges that the driver needs to pull over and rest3.
The car technology is still in development，but general manager Kazuhiro Doi says the combination of different detection systems should improve the overall effectiveness of the technology. “For example，if the gear-shift sensor was bypassed by a passenger using it instead of the driver，the facial recognition system would still be used,” Doi says.Nissan has no specific timetable for marketing the system，but aims to use technology to cut the number of fatalities involving its vehicles to half 1995 levels by 2015.
The car’s seat belt can also tighten if drowsiness is detected，while an external camera checks that the car is keeping to its lane properly. However，Doi admits that some of the technology，such as the alcohol odor sensor，should be improved.“If you drink one beer，it’s going to register，so we need to study what’s the appropriate level for the system to activate,” he says.
In the UK4,some research groups are using similar advanced techniques to understand driver behavior and the effectiveness of different road designs.
词汇:
breathalyzer n.呼气酒精检测器 alertness/ E5lE:tnis/n.警惕
sensor/5sensE(r)/ n.传感器 bypass /5baIpB:s/v.绕过
odor/5EudE(r)/ n.气味 facial/5feiFEl/adj.面部的
alert/E5lE:t/ adj.警惕的 fatality/ 5teilai/n.死亡事故
ignition/ i^5niFEn/n.点火 tighten/ 5taitEn/v.变紧，绑紧
gear-shift knob 换档把手 drowsiness/5drauzinis/n.昏昏欲睡
perspiration/7pE:spE5reiFEn/n.出汗 activate/5Aktiveit/v.使活动，使激活
dashboard/5dAF7bC:d/n.仪表板;挡泥板
练习：
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true of the Japanese concept care
A It has a sensor system that could issue a warning if the driver is drunk.
B It has sensors that detect traces of alcohol inside the car.
C It has sensors locked up in the ignition system.
D It has a breathalyzer-like detection system.
2. What has Volvo developed?
A The same detection system mentioned in the previous paragraph.
B A breathalyzer attached to a car’s seat belt.
C A smart car seat belt.
D An intelligent engine.
3. What is the function of the camera mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A It monitors the driver’s eyes to see if he needs a rest.
B It judges if the driver wants to pull over.
C It judges if the driver wants to take a rest.
D It issues an alarm when the driver speaks.
4. According to Doi
A the overall effectiveness of the detection technology has improved.
B Nissan is making a timetable to market the detection system.
C it is impossible to improve the overall effectiveness of the detection system.
D Nissan aims to improve the detection technology to reduce the fatality rate.
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in Paragraph 6?
A An external camera checks that the car is going properly.
B The car will automatically keep to its lane.
C The seat belt will tighten when the driver is found drowsy.
D The technology of the alcohol odor sensor should be improved.