Swedish automaker Volvo petitioned the Swedish government to let its engineers booze it up so they can properly test experimental safety features. Now that is a (hic) fringe benefit!

Sweden has the reputation of having the toughest drunk driving laws in all of Europe, where driving after more than one beer can land a person a heavy fine.

The experimental system is designed to know and somehow control for the situation if a driver isn’t responding to dangers on the road. Reputed for the high level of safety features, Volvo plans to test the new system on its own closed off tracks in Gothenburg if granted permission from the government.

"It's a matter of developing technical systems that warn if the driver isn't reacting properly," said Christer Gustafsson, spokesman for Ford-owned Volvo Cars."That means if the driver is tired, sick, drunk or under the influence of other drugs. We want to do this in a controlled environment in Sweden,"

Still in the development stage, Gustafsson gave little details about the system other than the aim was to prevent accidents.

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An alcohol testing car. Boy what a buy here in the USA for those that get the DUI.

Would be nice if the car would not start if a person was under the fluence. If so would save livies.

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So, this petition is just a publicity grab then? I mean, I dont know much about Swedish law, but I have trouble believing that you'd get in trouble for doing something like this on private property. A quick google search suggests that Sweden doesn't recognize any such thing as trespassing - but you can't drive on someone else's property w/o permission.