About the Process
The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have entered into a cooperative research agreement to explore the feasibility, the potential benefits of, and the public policy challenges associated with a more widespread use of in-vehicle technology to prevent alcohol-impaired driving. This 5-year agreement requires that ACTS and NHTSA work together to engage in cooperative research that advances the state of alcohol detection technology. ACTS is a nonprofit organization that educates the public and policymakers about traffic safety issues. Funding for ACTS is provided by motor vehicle manufacturers, who make up its membership. ACTS’ current members include: Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp., Mazda North American Operations, Nissan North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. These ACTS members represent a majority of automotive companies that develop and build new vehicles for the U.S. market.
ACTS will provide leadership in overseeing a step-by-step, data-driven process to ensure that effective technologies are developed. Technology performance criteria will be established and a multi-stage research program initiated that will include proof-of-concept projects to evaluate promising technological approaches, followed by prototype development and testing phases. A Program Manager has been appointed by ACTS to coordinate work under this agreement. ACTS also has appointed a Technical Manager who will work closely with the Program Manager to ensure completion of each work phase of the program. In order to consider the views of industry and other stakeholders ACTS formed a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts, including representatives from automotive manufacturers and suppliers, public interest and research organizations, government representatives both domestic and international, and experts in the science of alcohol toxicology, behavioral impairment, human factors, and highway safety research. The Blue Ribbon Panel meets about twice a year and meeting minutes and presentations are available below.
Meeting Materials
Click one of the links below for more information and materials.
Research Program Plan

Organizational Structure

DADSS Presentations
Click one of the links below for more information and materials.
- Presentation at the 2008 Lifesavers National Conference “Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving – Advanced Technologies Research.” Robert Strassburger, April 2008
- “Turning Knowledge into Action: The Evolution of Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures.” Susan Ferguson, Ph.D. September 2008
- Public Policy Considerations and Challenges for the Widespread Implementation of Technology to Reduce Drunk Driving.” Susan Ferguson, Ph.D. August 2008
- “DADSS Program Status Update.” Bud Zaouk, D.Sc. August 2008
- “Advanced Alcohol Detection Technologies: A Cooperative Research Agreement.” Susan Ferguson, Ph.D. March 2008
Blue Ribbon Panel Members
Dr. Susan Ferguson,
Chair ACTS
Al Bernat
TK Holdings Inc.
Dr. Douglas J. Beirness
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
Louis J. Brown
Volkswagen Group of America
Dr. John L. Campbell
Battelle, Center for Human Performance and Safety
Senator Kent L. Cravens
New Mexico State Senate
Barry Felrice
Chrysler LLC
Mike Finkelstein
Michael Finkelstein & Associates
Dr. R. Thomas Gentry
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Dr. Lothar Groesch
Robert Bosch LLC
Dr. Ralph Hingson
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Chuck Hurley
MADD
Liza Jakobsson
Swedish Road Administration
Brian Jonah
Transport Canada
Robert C. Lange
General Motors Corporation
Dr. Barry Logan
Forensic Insight, Inc.
Dr. Howard Moss
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Andie Murie
MADD Canada
Masato Sahashi
Japan Automobile Standards Internationalization Center
Douglas Stein
Autoliv North America
Chris J. Tinto
Toyota Motor North America, Inc
Dr. Jan Urbahn
BMW of North America, LLC
James Vondale
Ford Motor Company
Dr. Glenn R. Widmann
Delphi Corporation
Bob Yakushi
Nissan North America, Inc.
Dave Zuby
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Observers
Erika Jones
Mayer Brown
Bob Shelton
Consultant
Robert Strassburger
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
Eric Traube
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Bud Zaouk
Foster-Miller, Inc QinetiQ North America