Mitsubishi electric's ai system detects drunk drivers with 'unprecedented accuracy'

Mitsubishi Electric is on the verge of commercializing an AI-powered system that can detect drunk drivers with unprecedented accuracy. The company has spent the past two years training the artificial intelligence, dubbed the DMS (Driver Monitoring System), using data from over 100 individuals of diverse backgrounds and levels of intoxication.

How the system works

The DMS uses a camera to focus on the driver's face during the journey, analyzing changes in skin tone and determining their pulse. It also studies the driver's eyes, detecting if they close more frequently, appear glassy, or move erratically. Additionally, the system tracks the vehicle's sensors, which monitor sudden turns, braking, or acceleration.

Once the AI evaluates these three control systems, it determines if the driver has consumed alcohol and is losing control. The same method can also detect drowsiness or medication-induced impairment. If a problem is detected, the system's response varies depending on the vehicle. In some cases, it will simply emit an alarm or flash a red LED to alert the driver. In others, it will progressively slow the vehicle and steer it toward the shoulder until it comes to a stop.

While Japan has seen a significant decline in drunk-driving fatalities in recent years, the country still struggles with the issue. In 2025, there were 125 reported fatalities due to intoxicated drivers, compared to around 12,000 in the US, which has a much larger population. However, even one death is a tragedy, and research shows that drunk drivers are seven times more likely to cause fatalities than sober drivers.

Mitsubishi's innovative use of AI in this system could save countless lives and reduce the devastating consequences of impaired driving.