The Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety in the U.S. has authorized laser developer Nanoplus Nanosystems and Technologies GmbH to start the second phase of laser development for its touch-based alcohol sensor. The project is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program for a driver alcohol detection system. The technology aims to prevent alcohol-impaired drivers from moving their cars, and will be made available as a safety option in new vehicles. A touch-based system can measure alcohol content by shining a beam of IR light onto a driver’s fingertip when it is placed on the car’s ignition button or gear shift. The sensor will be developed in collaboration with TK Holdings Inc. and TruTouch Technologies Inc.