The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) research program is preparing a drivable test vehicle equipped with technology to prevent the illegal operation of a vehicle by a drunk driver.

Two companies were each awarded $2.25 million after successful proofs-of-concept, and will now install their respective DADSS prototypes into test vehicles. One has developed a touch-based system which uses infrared light to evaluate alcohol concentration based on the unique chemistry of the skin. The other is applying a breath test to check the driver's breath alcohol.

"What we're doing is developing technology that won't hassle sober drivers; will require virtually no maintenance or upkeep; and will have such precision that it only stops a driver when their blood alcohol content is at or exceeds 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) - which is the legal limit that policymakers have set for drunk driving in every state," said Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers executive Rob Strassburger.

The DADSS program is a collaboration between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS). The research began in 2008 with plans to continue for five years. Prototype testing is expected to be followed by voluntary use of the systems in production vehicles in about a decade. In the past, the use of voluntary safety measures has resulted in lower auto insurance rates for participating models.