New in-car AI can flag drunk drivers by constantly scanning their face

The computers built into cars could one day tell if a driver is drunk simply by looking at their facial features, researchers say. By constantly "watching" the driver for typical signs of inebriation, it could even reduce drunk driving accidents. 

The project, outlined in a paper published April 9 as part of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Computer Vision Foundation (CVF) conference, gives in-car computing systems the power to assess the driver's intoxication level as soon as they get in — with 75% accuracy.

It goes beyond existing computer-aided methods that rely on observable behaviors like steering patterns, pedal usage and vehicle speed. Those data points can only be collected and processed when the vehicle has been moving for an extended period.

In contrast, the new project uses a single color camera that watches for variables like gaze direction and head position. The overall system can also incorporate 3D and infrared footage of the driver's face and rearview videos showing driver posture, alongside steering interactions, event logs, and screen recordings of driving behavior.

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"Our system has the capability to identify intoxication levels at the beginning of a drive, allowing for the potential prevention of impaired drivers from being on the road," Ensiyeh Keshtkaran, a doctoral student at Edith Cowan University, Australia, who contributed to the project, said in a statement.

She added that because the software fits seamlessly into the digital architectures of smart vehicles — like eye tracking and driver monitoring systems — it makes it easy to migrate to environments like a smartphone.