Driver intoxication test system and method

A driver intoxication test system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated;
• an intoxication validation test subsystem configured for mounting in the vehicle, the intoxication validation test subsystem configured to determine whether the driver is intoxicated;
• and
• a controller in communication with the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem and the intoxication validation test subsystem, the controller configured to:
• determine whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated;
• when the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, the controller instructs the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test and determines if the driver has passed the intoxication validation test;
• and
• when the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has not detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, the controller does not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test.

A method for testing whether a driver is intoxicated within a vehicle having a vehicle ignition lock-out, the method comprising:

• performing a quick intoxication pre-test using a sensor subassembly for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated;
• when the quick intoxication pre-test has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, performing an intoxication validation test to determine if the driver is intoxicated;
• when the intoxication validation test determines that the driver is intoxicated, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to prevent the vehicle from starting;
• when the intoxication validation test determines that the driver is not intoxicated, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to allow the vehicle to be started;
• and
• when the quick intoxication pre-test has not detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated, sending a signal to the vehicle ignition lock-out to allow the vehicle to be started without conducting the intoxication validation test.