ALCOHOL DETECTION AND ENGINE LOCKING SYSTEM

Abstract

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents worldwide, resulting in severe injuries, fatalities, and significant economic losses. Alcohol consumption affects a driver’s ability to make decisions, slows reaction time, and reduces overall vehicle control, thereby increasing the risk of accidents. According to global road safety reports from organizations such as the World Health Organization, alcohol-impaired driving contributes to a large percentage of traffic-related deaths each year. Therefore, developing an effective technological solution to detect alcohol consumption before driving is essential for improving road safety and preventing accidents. This paper presents the design and implementation of a real-time alcohol detection and alert system using an embedded microcontroller platform. The proposed system is developed using the Arduino Uno integrated with the MQ-3 Alcohol Sensor to detect alcohol concentration in the driver’s breath. The MQ-3 sensor continuously monitors alcohol vapors present in the surrounding air and produces an analog voltage signal proportional to the detected alcohol level. This signal is transmitted to the Arduino Uno, which processes the sensor data and compares it with a predefined threshold value programmed into the system. When the detected alcohol concentration exceeds the permissible limit, the Arduino controller activates an audible alert using a buzzer to warn the user about the presence of alcohol. The alert mechanism provides immediate feedback and helps prevent intoxicated individuals from operating the vehicle. The prototype system is developed using simple and cost-effective hardware components including the Arduino Uno, MQ-3 alcohol sensor, buzzer, breadboard, and jumper wires, making it suitable for low-cost implementation and easy deployment. Experimental testing demonstrates that the system is capable of detecting alcohol vapors effectively and generating alert signals with minimal delay. The proposed system offers a reliable, economical, and easy-to-implement solution for improving vehicle safety