New JDM Nissans To Warn Owners Not To Drive Drunk

Electronic appliance greetings are nothing new—we’ve seen everything from alarm clocks to vending machines to automobiles that say ‘Hello’ and ‘Goodbye’ when they are powered on and powered off, and we’ve all encountered automated phone trees that make feeble attempts at sounding courteous.

But Nissan’s Japanese arm is set to take the digital courtesy notionto the next level as part of its updated “CARWINGS (HDD)” navigation system. Between the hours of 5:30 pm and 5:00 am, each time a vehicle’s ignition is turned on, the unit’s screen will admonish: “Do not drive after drinking!” Apparently unaware of the dangers of a three martini lunch, between the hours of 5:00 am and 5:30 pm, the unit will cheerily read: “Let’s continue safe driving today.”

That ought to do it… thanks, guys.

+ PRNewswire: Nissan Incorporates Message Alert Against Drunk-Driving on CARWINGS Navi System (via MSN)

(Click through to the jump for the official press release)

Nissan Incorporates Message Alert Against Drunk-Driving on CARWINGS Navi System

TOKYO, June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced it will incorporate a message alert against drunk driving into its CARWINGS (HDD) navigation systems*1, as a part of a wider campaign to help prevent drunk-driving. Nissan will gradually incorporate this new feature into its navigation systems on board new vehicles being built from late June for the Japan market.

The updated CARWINGS navi systems will display the drunk driving alert each time the ignition is turned on to remind the driver of the hazards of drinking and driving.

As an automaker, Nissan is committed to raising public awareness and educating drivers to the dangers of drinking and driving. The company is actively engaged in a wide range of educational initiatives such as the Hello Safety Campaign*2 in Japan as well as serving as the national sponsor, for the third consecutive year, of Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) Strides for Change charity walks in the U.S. As the national sponsor — and as part of its commitment to child passenger safety — Nissan employees conduct safety seat demonstrations and provide walk participants with a quick reference guide on the proper way to install car safety seats for all children up to age 10. To date, the Strides for Change walks, which are now featured in dozens of cities nationwide, have raised millions of dollars to stop drunk driving.

The message alert is a pre-emptive passive safety measure that represents a first-step for Nissan to incorporate this feature across our products. Looking forward, Nissan intends to widen its use of technology to address the hazards of drunk driving.

Message Alerts

The alert “Do not drive after drinking!” appears automatically for about five seconds on the navigation panel between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 05:00 a.m. when the vehicle’s ignition is turned on. In the daytime between 05:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., the display message reads, “Let’s continue safe driving today.”

On a global level, Nissan is committed to building safe vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to cut in half the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

Nissan is taking a holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a “safe driving environment”, Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in the Kanagawa Prefecture — aimed at reducing road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In addition, Nissan is engaged in various road safety campaigns targeted at both adults and children, and continues to collaborate with partners from the government and private sectors.

*1: First installed on the Skyline released in November 2006 and is available either as a standard feature on certain models or as manufacturer option.

*2: The safety campaign is held three times a year in conjunction with the national traffic-safety campaigns held over the spring, autumn and summer school holidays. The 35th campaign (June 12 - July 1) featured a “Parent-child prevention of drink-driving” program. At the 36th campaign (July 7-8), Nissan will distribute educational kits on traffic safety including ways to help prevent drink-driving, to kindergarten aged children nationwide.

Copyright 2007 PR Newswire