South African company PFK recently developed the Autowatch wireless alcohol breathalyser (WAB) system to prevent alcohol-impaired drivers from circulating on public roads and endangering the safety of others. Before starting a vehicle equipped with the Autowatch system, the driver must breathe into a breathalyser which will analyse the sample, determine whether the driver’s alcohol concentration is above the specified legal limit, and transmit the result to a vehicle blocking system (VBS).
If the alcohol concentration is below the legal limit, the VBS will disarm the immobiliser and allow the vehicle to start, but if not, the vehicle will remain in the immobilised state. By adding a cellular connection to the Autowatch WAB, the system can immediately communicate exceptional events, such as an attempt to push start the vehicle, to a control station or a fleet manager.
The Autowatch exploits Sierra Wireless’ AirPrime WMP100 Intelligent Embedded Modules, with their ability to reliably connect to central systems in real-time. Sierra is represented locally by Arrow Altech Distribution and Trinity Telecomms.
These modules were also recently designed into a driving safety system developed by US company inthinc. This technology mentors teen drivers as well as commercial operators in real-time by comparing driver behaviour to preprogrammed conditions and notifying the driver when it senses unsafe driving events including speeding, aggressiveness and more. Simultaneously, thanks to the cellular connection provided by the WMP100, parents and fleet owners can be notified of the driver’s current location, actions and driving performance through text, voicemail or e-mail. All driving information is reported and stored on a Web portal for later review.
For more information contact Arrow Altech Distribution, +27 (0)11 923 9600, Trinity Telecomms, +27 (0)11 465 7377, PFK, +27 (0)31 274 7200.
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