Development and Verification of a Testing Methodology for Driver Alcohol Intoxication Detection Systems

Abstract

The development of robust driver monitoring systems for alcohol intoxication detection represents a critical advancement in automotive safety technology. With intoxicated driving remaining a significant contributor to traffic fatalities worldwide, there is growing regulatory push alongside strategy for consumer safety organisations like Euro NCAP towards technologies to minimise associated risks. Development of production-ready detection solutions depends on multi-phase data collection and assessment with test participants under the influence of alcohol – presenting significant safety and ethical challenges. In consequence, there is a pressing need to build tool chains for driver intoxication monitoring system evaluation upon existing performance validation approaches across virtual and real-vehicle platforms. Specific innovation focusses upon providing user testing services for implementation during the automotive product development cycle at a critical phase between laboratory validation and real-world implementation. This paper presents a comprehensive testing framework validated through pilot implementation at the IDIADA proving ground in Spain, incorporating controlled intoxication protocols, vehicle instrumentation, and rigorous safety measures. The standardised approach supports comparative analysis between different solutions and establishes a benchmark for performance evaluation procedures balanced with specific challenges of user testing under alcohol intoxication inducement.

Keywords: Driver intoxication, Driver Monitoring, ADAS, Driver Perception, Distraction, Robustness, Reliance, DMS, Occupant Monitoring

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008145