The first wireless vehicle immobilizer breathalyzer is Spanish

The Málaga-based company specialising in the development of driver safety devices, Drivelock, has launched the country’s first wireless vehicle immobilizer breathalyzer, which takes its name from the company. This patented device, manufactured in Spain, aims to reduce the number of road accidents caused by alcohol consumption by preventing those who have been drinking from starting their car.

The Drivelock system integrates a terminal with a mobile app that allows users to monitor blood alcohol content (BAC) by measuring the alcohol in exhaled breath. A technological product that offers a reliable and accurate measurement for diagnosing alcohol intoxication.

Drivelock uses electrochemical fuel cell sensor technology to analyse breath. The user blows into the mouthpiece and the device sends the data to the phone to display the blood alcohol level. The test must be carried out in front of the phone’s camera to obtain the result, so it is not possible for another person to blow into the device. It runs on a rechargeable battery charged via a micro-USB cable, making it easy to charge with any type of device. Drivelock needs to be calibrated once a year, and for this reason the company has set up its own breathalyzer calibration centre in Málaga, the first of its kind in the country.

How the Drivelock breathalyzer works

The goal is to provide maximum safety behind the wheel by preventing the car from starting until the driver takes a breath test. If the result is positive, the vehicle remains locked until the test is repeated and a negative result is obtained. It also includes several start-up systems on the server for emergencies or possible registration failures.

Drivelock’s founder, José González Villodres, explains that this project stems from a professional and human need to innovate for the sake of people’s safety, with the aim of raising public awareness of the harm that driving under the influence of alcohol can cause. Under the motto “Drive is living”, this Málaga company encourages citizens to reflect on this issue.

Likewise, Drivelock aims to revolutionise the market in line with the citizen and road safety objective proposed by the DGT for 2030: halving road fatalities and reaching zero by 2050. The company patented a wired breathalyzer in Spain some years ago and now launches this wireless radio-frequency system, which is easy to install and adaptable to any vehicle. One of its main advantages is that, when the car goes through the ITV (roadworthiness inspection), the user does not need an additional certificate, because since the factory installation is not modified, no homologation of a change to the engine is required.