Have Australian researchers found the solution to the dangers of drink driving? According to their work, technology that scans images from “intelligent” CCTV cameras can help detect drunk drivers.
To do this, researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) grouped several participants, divided into three groups, according to blood alcohol levels. And these guinea pigs being placed in a driving simulator. This in front of the “smart” camera in question.
Camera detects driver’s alcohol level
The latter then analyzed the facial features, the direction of the gaze and the position of the head. With this, she assessed the degree of alcohol consumption of the drivers. And therefore, their ability to drive their vehicle well or not.
The first results are rather encouraging. “Our system detects different levels of intoxication, with an overall accuracy of 75% on the three levels,” explained Ensiyeh Keshtkaran, a doctoral student at ECU.
However, the work still needs to continue. These algorithmic detections are not sufficient, according to the researchers. Because “they imply that the drunk driver is already on the road”. However, this “presents a risk to himself and to others”.
Clear ambitions
However, researchers have strong ambitions regarding these cameras. “If low-resolution videos prove sufficient, this technology could be used by surveillance cameras installed on the side of the road,” according to the researchers. The police could even take advantage of it, in order to “prevent drunk driving”.
It remains to define the image resolution needed for the test to be convincing. In the meantime, work continues. But there is no doubt that this solution could interest legislators, as cameras are increasingly present in cars.
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To sum up
Researchers have developed technology to detect drunk drivers. This is done using a scanner and a “smart” camera. The work needs to continue, but the researchers are ambitious.
