A system and method to prevent a human being from operating a motor vehicle if the human being is intoxicated or under the effects of particular hallucinating drugs that uses a galvanic detector that can measure epidermal (skin) elements of a human being such as alcohol content, sweat and temperature continuously in conjunction with circuitry and logic circuits that connect to the vehicle's ignition system that only allow the vehicle to be operated when certain temperature sensing conditions are met and certain conditions requiring no alcohol are met otherwise the vehicle will be turned off. In an alternate embodiment, a glove could be used for epidermal measurements that is also connected to the sensing circuits.

A non-invasive method for the objective measurement of the functional state of the autonomic nervous system, including the balance between its two divisions, sympathetic and parasympathetic. The method is based on the iontophoretic application of different concentrations of the natural mediators noradrenaline and acetylcholine, and on the visual or instrumental assessment, based on color or conductivity measurement, of the concentrations causing vasoconstriction, and respectively, vasodilatation of the cutaneous vessels.

Methods and systems using one or more expert systems to screen equipment operators for impairments, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, to selectively test the equipment operators and control the equipment (e.g., automobiles, trucks, industrial vehicles, public transportation vehicles, such as buses, subways, trains, planes, and ships, and dangerous machinery in general) if impairment of the equipment operator is determined. One embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for intoxication, using one or more expert systems. A second embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, using one or more expert systems. A third embodiment is an equipment operator screening system to determine impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, using one or more expert systems.

Methods and systems to screen equipment operators for impairments, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, to selectively test the equipment operators and control the equipment if impairment of the equipment operator is determined. One embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for intoxication. A second embodiment is a method to screen an equipment operator for impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment. A third embodiment is an equipment operator screening system to determine impairment, such as intoxication, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment.

A portion a the machine which the operator regularly engages with his or her hands has incorporated therein a plurality of passageways (14) through which a vacuum is applied to draw vapor which is emitted by the hands of the individual. Vapor from the individual's hands is drawn through a sampling apparatus. The sampling apparatus contains an electrical coil (32, 36, 42, 46) which is coated with a composite metal-nonmetal catalytic substance which causes ethanol to oxidize at the coil. When ethanol-containing vapor passes over the coil, oxidation at the coil causes an electrical charge to build up on the coil. The charge build-up is detected and processed in a discriminating type of electrical circuit which incorporates a wheatstone bridge or a constant-current loop. The resulting signal is further processed then ultimately used to estimate the alcohol content of the individual.