Smart Eye, announced that its Real-Time Alcohol Impairment Detection has been named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards honouree in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category.
Integrated into Smart Eye’s proven Driver Monitoring System (DMS), the feature detects alcohol impairment based on real-time driver behaviour, helping address one of the most persistent causes of road fatalities.
Smart Eye’s Real-Time Alcohol Impairment Detection continuously analyses subtle changes in eye and eyelid behaviour to identify visual signs of intoxication. Unlike systems that rely on breath sensors, the technology uses a non-intrusive, behavioural approach trained on real driving data collected from controlled intoxication studies. Because it runs on existing DMS hardware, the feature requires no additional sensors, calibration, or system changes. This enables fast, large-scale deployment for vehicle manufacturers and commercial fleets alike.
“Alcohol impairment detection has been discussed in safety circles for years, but rarely with a viable path to implementation,” said Martin Krantz, CEO and Founder of Smart Eye. “By running on existing DMS hardware, using existing signals, this feature turns a long-standing safety ambition into a function that can be deployed at scale. It’s trained on real driving data and aligns with the direction regulators are already taking, making it both road-ready and future-proof.”
Designed to comply with stringent data privacy standards, the feature can operate entirely within the vehicle, with no need to record or transmit video. Its software-based design also allows it to be distributed via over-the-air updates and easily integrated with existing fleet or vehicle platforms. As global regulators and safety programs, including Euro NCAP and the U. S. HALT Act, establish new requirements for impairment detection, Smart Eye’s solution provides a ready path to compliance and safer roads.
The CES Innovation Awards honour excellence in product design and engineering. Smart Eye’s selection by the program’s expert panel highlights the growing importance of impairment detection as a core capability in next-generation driver monitoring systems.
Smart Eye will showcase its Real-Time Alcohol Impairment Detection alongside its latest automotive innovations at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, 6–9th January, 2026
