In Germany, in 2003, 6.8% of all crashes with personal injury were alcohol-related. Based on a sample in which the police were instructed to try to obtain breath samples from the driver responsible for causing the crash. Drink drivers not only kill themselves, but they also kill other road users (their passengers and/or the occupants of the vehicles and pedestrians they crash into Not only drink driving but also drink walking, drink riding and drink cycling cause fatalities.

When someone uses drugs and alcohol it can seriously impair the performance, productivity, and potentially even affect the safety of employees. To comply with legal requirements, protect staff and the public, and look after the general health and wellbeing of the workforce, drug and alcohol policies are becoming significantly more mainstay in the general industry. With 76 % of people who misuse substances thought to be in regular employment, businesses are faced with very real risks that can have a knock-on effect in terms of safety, health, and productivity. By investing in a robust workplace drug and alcohol policy, employers can reduce mounting costs and identify potential problems before they escalate.

Blood alcohol level (BAL) estimation is the most important parameter to determine the alcohol intoxication state of the driver. In order to enforce traffic laws, breath alcohol analyses (BrAL) have been used for approximately 70 years to determine blood alcohol level and level of drunkenness. However, the BrAL cannot be used by people suffering from asthmatics or persons with craniocerebral injuries. Many contagious airborne infections such as COVID-19, Influenza, Chickenpox, Mumps, Measles, Whooping cough, and Tuberculosis predominantly spread through particles or droplets from coughing and sneezing, so avoiding forceful exhales near others is important. Breathalyzers have already been recognized as a potential problem during the pandemic, with Calgary police officers suspending roadside breathalyzers testing for the time being.

At the University of Applied Sciences Jena Germany, a group of postdocs, students, and engineers formed a team called 4pilots which is determined to solve this problem. The team of 4pilots has been awarded kick start funding from the University of Applied Sciences Jena. Underlying innovation for this technology lies in the fact that there are significant changes in the body during alcohol metabolism by the liver. As a result of this, blood vessels expand and skin flushing appears in the face showing changes in eyes, ears, forehead, and other parts of the body including hands. By exploring these changes in combination with photonics and artificial intelligence, 4pilots try to distinguish between a sober and intoxicated/drunken person.