By Allan Maurer
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Fifteen years ago, Dr. Dennis Bellehumeur’s then teenage son drove his car into a utility pole while driving drunk and suffered minor brain damage. Bellehumeur, a neuro-clinical psychologist, spent the next 12 years developing his steering wheel sensor system that won’t let people drive drunk.
Bellehumeur, who is 56, and his partners have already invested about $4.5 million of their own money and “tens of thousands of unpaid hours” in the company, Arrive Alive Technologies LLC, he says. His other investments include real estate and a deli.
The Arrive Alive Technologies system uses a galvanic sensor that can be embedded in the steering wheel of virtually any vehicle to measure epidermal (skin) elements of the driver.
Alcohol content, sweat, temperature, and other measurements are read continuously by the system to determine if the driver is under the influence of alcohol.
It can be programmed to read other impairments as well.
If the driver is determined to be impaired, the system works in tandem with logic circuits connected to the vehicle’s ignition system to prevent operation. “I remember the night I sketched out the device at 3 a.m.,” says Bellehumeur.
Unlike other interlock solutions currently on the market that require drivers to submit breath samples in order to be effective, the Arrive Alive system will not require the driver to change behavior in the operation of the vehicle.
“The ability to provide effective monitoring in a completely unobtrusive fashion through the steering wheel is what will really separate the Arrive Alive Technologies system from the competition,” says Bellehumeur.
“Breath-based systems are easily defeated by having a sober passenger or friend submit to the test. Our system monitors the driver, and only the driver throughout the entire time that the vehicle is in operation, so it’s virtually foolproof.”
Bellehumeur points out that alcoholism is an addictive neuropathic disease in which people will put up a fight over who gets the car keys even when it’s obvious to others they should not drive.
“This system lets the driver of a car, bus, truck, plane or boat know their toxicity is above the level that lets them drive safely. Too many people are victims of themselves or victims of others.”
While some have raised objections to how much the system might add to the cost of a vehicle—it runs from $500 to $1,000—Bellehumeur points out the social, economic, and taxpayer costs of drunk driving are enormous.
He also notes that parents with teenage drivers might want the system installed. “I know if it were available back when the incident happened in my family, I would have had this on my car,” he says.
The system may also appeal to fleet owners, whether buses, trucks, vans, or cars.
The psychologist, who has treated people who suffered brain damage from alcohol related accidents, says another of the system’s benefits is it’s passive nature. No one but the driver even knows it’s operating. That prevents the stigmatizing someone as alcoholic.
There is also great potential to expand the system to detect other substances or forms of impairment that would impact driving performance, such as fatigue, says Rick Abrams, a co-founder and managing director. Abrams’ wife was nearly killed by a drunk driver. “Broke nearly every bone in her body,” he says.
For his part, Bellehumeur is on a mission. “I really want to do this,” he says. “This is what we need to resolve this issue. I’m passionate about it. The only impediment is really just dollars.”
For more information, see: www.arrivealivetech.com
Contact Allan Maurer at: allan@techjournalsouth.com
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