The small and compact meter can be mounted on a motorbike

The smart control device which ensures safety for drivers was invented by Nguyen Van Sy, an 11th grader at the Phan Chau Trinh High School in Quang Nam province.

Sy said the device contains an alcohol measuring unit, a motorbike lock processing unit, positioning device, and phone. 

The operation principle is simple.  At first, drivers unlock the motorbike to power the device. After that, they blow into a tube mounted on the motorcycle to measure the alcohol concentration. Then, the breath will be analyzed by the unit. 

If the driver’s alcohol concentration is below the permitted level (0-0.2 mg per liter of air breathed), the LCD screen will show ‘safe’ and the driver can kick-start the motorbike.

“I set the default at 0.2 mg/liter, because under the current laws, the drivers with alcohol concentration of more than 0.25 mg/liter will be fined. This will allow drivers not to violate traffic laws when they drink liquor or beer,” he explained.

If the alcohol concentration is above 0.2 mg/liter, the device will turn off the motorbike IC power cable, while the LCD screen will display the alcohol concentration and the alert will show ‘not safe’. The motorbike engine will automatically stop and the driver cannot ignite the vehicle.

The positioning device will send messages to the phone number to show the current position of the driver so the relative or friend can go to the site and bring the driver home.

The device invented by Sy is ‘intelligent’ because it turns off the engine. 

“My father is a big drinker. I am worried that he may have an accident. So I decided to do something to help my father drive safely,” Sy said.

“My father’s motorbike was the first vehicle I had a test with,” he said.

Sy had to spend six months and experience three failures inventing the alcohol meter. The manufacturing cost is below VND1 million, so commercial development is within reach.

In related news, the decree on fines for traffic violations issued last year stipulates that car drivers with alcohol exceeding 80 mg for every 100 ml of blood or 0.4 mg for every liter of breath will be fined VND10-15 million, and bikers will be fined VND2-3 million. Violators will also have their driving licences revoked for two months.

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