Car maker Volvo has asked the Swedish government to waive the country's strict drunken driving laws to allow its test drivers to booze on the job, news reports said Wednesday.

The safety-conscious automaker wants to test a new technology that is designed to make the car take control of steering when a driver's reaction time is slowed because of intoxication or fatigue.

If the request is granted, it would be the first exception to Sweden's drunken driving laws, which are among the world's toughest, national broadcaster SVT reported.

The testing would be done on a special track near Goteborg, on Sweden's west coast, where Volvo's parent company, Ford Motor Co., has a safety development facility.

In Sweden, just one beer or glass of wine can land a driver in jail for up to six months.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins.../01-254159.htm

 

why would they need a permit if they're driving in their own private track?

 

I guess the law applies there too? The article does say Sweden has the toughest drunk driving laws around... :dunno:

 

DRIVING is their JOB. What do you think their insurance would say if they got hurt at WORK.. DRIVING.. DRUNK...??? You need permission for that kind of thing!

 

what an awesome job. they get to test cars all day long, and now they get to drink while doing it!

seriously, tho, i don't know why they can't just simulate slower response times and intoxicated driving

 

Exactly. Different people react to the same bottle of beer differently. How much is "drunk" is different from one person to another. One system that can save a drunken volvo driver's behind might totally not work for another drunken volvo driver.

Besides, instead of trying to get techs that tell people it MIGHT be ok to drink and drive, we should have their drink and drive laws in the USA

 

It's not just for drinking, it is to deal with poor driver reaction time. Alcohol is just the easiest and cheapest way to impair their test drivers' reaction.

 

if they really just need bad drivers they should hire a bunch of middle aged american women and give them cellphones.

 

hhhaaaahaaa

 

winnar!