Design and Validation of an Arduino-Based Alcohol Detection and Starter Disconnection System for Road Safety in Ghana

Alcohol-impaired driving remains a major road safety concern in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries, where enforcement limitations, commercial transport dependence, and risky driver behaviour continue to increase crash vulnerability. This review examined the design and validation of an Arduino-based alcohol detection and starter disconnection system as a preventive road safety intervention for Ghana. The review adopted a narrative and technical synthesis approach, drawing on recent literature on alcohol-impaired driving, ignition interlock systems, Arduino-based alcohol detection prototypes, MQ-3 alcohol sensors, relay-controlled starter mechanisms, and validation procedures for embedded automotive safety systems. The findings showed that alcohol impairs driver judgement, reaction time, attention, and vehicle control, thereby increasing crash risk and injury severity. Evidence from prototype studies also showed that Arduino platforms can be integrated with alcohol sensors, buzzers, displays, relay modules, and ignition-control circuits to prevent vehicle starting when alcohol is detected above a predefined threshold. However, the review found that technical feasibility alone is insufficient for real-world deployment. Sensor calibration, response time, false readings, environmental conditions, tamper resistance, user acceptance, and safe installation must be addressed before implementation. The study concludes that an Arduino-based alcohol detection and starter disconnection system can complement Ghana’s road safety enforcement and education efforts by preventing impaired driving before vehicle movement begins. The system is especially relevant for commercial buses, school buses, institutional vehicles, and fleet operations. Future research should focus on prototype development, field validation, and integration with GPS, GSM alerts, and fleet monitoring systems.