Development of Vehicle Alcohol Sensing Engine Lock Safety System

The increasing number of alcohol-related accidents worldwide has become a significant concern for road safety. This study developed a vehicle alcohol-sensing engine lock system that prevented intoxicated individuals from operating vehicles. It effectively combined modern sensors and communication technologies to enhance road safety by preventing drunk driving. The system utilised an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with a SIM800L module, an MQ3 alcohol sensor, a relay module, an LCD, and a GPS module to detect alcohol levels in the drivers’ breath and immobilise the engine if the alcohol detected is above the predefined threshold of 0.05g/100ml.To achieve this, the MQ3 alcohol sensor continuously monitored the driver's breath for alcohol and sends data to the ESP32 microcontroller for further processing and triggers the relay module to cut off the vehicle's ignition system if the alcohol concentration exceeds the predefined threshold. Additionally, the GPS module recorded the vehicle's location, while the SIM800L module enables real-time communication, allowing SMS alerts to be sent to an emergency number. Results generated indicated that the device accurately detects alcohol and effectively disables the vehicle's engine when necessary. The developed system provided a cheap promising solution to reducing alcohol-related accidents, contributing to a safer and more responsible driving culture.