Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety

What Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety does

Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, that promotes highway and motor vehicle safety on behalf of the world's leading automakers. Its flagship initiative is the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Research Program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's NHTSA established in 2008 to invent, test, commercialize, and deploy vehicle-integrated alcohol detection technology. ACTS membership comprises 16 global light-vehicle manufacturers (BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Stellantis, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo), which fund the organization and provide the structural distribution channel into OEM vehicle platforms.

The DADSS technology suite consists of two complementary alcohol-detection modalities. The DADSS Breath System includes a first-generation directed-breath sensor (released for open licensing in June 2021, with first commercial products available in 2023) that requires only a minimal breath sample and returns a reading in under a second, and a second-generation fully passive breath sensor in development targeted for end of 2025 that detects impairment without any driver action. The DADSS Touch System measures blood alcohol concentration through skin contact. Both modalities are engineered to distinguish the driver from passengers and can render a vehicle inoperable when BAC exceeds a defined threshold (0.02% for zero-tolerance fleets, 0.08% for the legal limit). The program has analyzed nearly 150,000 breath, blood, and touch samples through human subject and driving testing, with field operational trials including James River Transportation (77,754+ miles, 98,472+ breath samples since 2018) and Schneider (8 cabs, ~1 million sensor miles since 2021).

ACTS monetizes DADSS exclusively through an open licensing model rather than direct product sales, offering intellectual property to product integrators, automotive OEMs, and fleet operators under three agreement structures (NDA, Pre-commercialization Agreement, Commercialization Agreement). Core customers today are commercial fleet operators implementing zero-tolerance alcohol policies (transportation and logistics companies, government vehicle fleets), with Virginia as the lead state through the Driven to Protect Initiative. Future commercial targets include consumer vehicle OEMs and adjacent non-transportation safety applications. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; ACTS states total cost of ownership is below existing alcohol detection technology, and Senseair AB serves as the global manufacturing and distribution partner for standalone products.

Name

Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety

Legal name

Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, Inc.

Website

https://actsautosafety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, founded in 1986, that manages the DADSS public-private partnership with NHTSA to develop and license vehicle-integrated alcohol detection technology (breath and touch sensors) to automakers and commercial fleet operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Safety Technology

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Driver Monitoring & Cabin Monitoring Hardware Manufacturing (IR Cameras/Sensors) (IMACAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Telematics/ELD & Onboard Data Recorder Diagnostics / Compliance Checks (TLAKANAE)

Keywords

• Vehicle-integrated alcohol detection
• Driver safety technology
• Drunk driving prevention systems
• Automotive safety licensing
• Traffic safety research

Headquarters

HQ city

Vausseroux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: ACTS licenses DADSS intellectual property to product integrators, automotive OEMs, and manufacturers rather than selling products directly. The open licensing model provides technology access to any qualified product integrator on the same terms. Revenue comes from licensing fees under three agreement types: Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA), Pre-commercialization Agreement (PCA), and Commercialization Agreement (CA).
2. Membership/Funding from Automakers: As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, ACTS is funded by motor vehicle manufacturers - its primary members. The organization receives financial support from the world's leading light car and truck manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACTS manages and licenses the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) technology portfolio — vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems that measure driver blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and prevent vehicle operation when impairment is detected. The portfolio includes a first-generation directed breath sensor for commercial fleets, a second-generation passive breath sensor in development, and a touch-based BAC sensor, all made available to product integrators through an open licensing model.

Product overview

ACTS manages the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Research Program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's NHTSA. The portfolio consists of two complementary alcohol detection technologies: the DADSS Breath System (currently in first-generation directed-breath commercial availability with a second-generation passive breath sensor in development for consumer vehicles) and the DADSS Touch System (in development). Both technologies measure driver blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and can prevent vehicle movement when impairment is detected. The DADSS Reference Design Package and Open Licensing Program support OEM integration of the technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DADSS First-Generation Breath System Directed-breath alcohol detection sensor requiring only a limited breath sample (like blowing out a candle) that gives an accurate reading in a second or less. Designed for fleet operators implementing zero-tolerance alcohol policies (0.02% threshold). Can be outfitted in the steering column, side door trim, or anywhere in close proximity to the driver.
• DADSS Second-Generation Passive Breath Sensor Next-generation fully passive breath sensor under development designed for widespread deployment in consumer vehicles. Does not require a directed breath or other action as the driver breathes normally. Can measure specific alcohol concentrations up to 0.08% BAC (the legal limit in most states) and above. Targeted for completion by end of 2025.
• DADSS Touch System Touch-based blood alcohol concentration detection system that works through skin contact. Part of the dual-technology approach alongside the breath system. Timeline for consumer availability targeted for 2025.
• DADSS Reference Design Package Documentation package for automotive OEMs including schematics, specifications, minimum hardware requirements, and other documentation relating to the hardware design of DADSS derivatives. Includes verification and validation testing data, human subjects testing results, and field operational trial data to support OEM integration.
• DADSS Open Licensing Program Open licensing program for DADSS intellectual property available to any product integrator interested in installing the technology into their products or vehicles. Three agreement types offered: Nondisclosure Agreement, Pre-commercialization Agreement, and Commercialization Agreement. Open model provides technology access to any qualified product integrator on the same terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• If widely deployed, could save more than 9,400 lives each year by preventing drivers from driving above 0.08% BAC
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, minor, major and core.

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2024MADD continues to be the nation's leading advocate for impaired driving prevention technology in new vehicles. MADD's advocacy is a major reason why DADSS Program was funded and research continues. DADSS Program hosted MADD representatives and victims at KEA Technologies in Massachusetts to see testing of DADSS technology.
• Future of Privacy Forum (FPF)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2024ACTS participated in panel discussion on vehicle safety and privacy hosted by Future of Privacy Forum in Washington D.C. ACTS worked with FPF on survey about consumer attitudes toward privacy and safety technologies. FPF issued report with recommendations for privacy in vehicle safety technology.
• Alliance for Automotive InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2024ACTS joined Alliance for Automotive Innovation on panel discussion hosted by Future of Privacy Forum to talk about importance of protecting consumer privacy in vehicles.
• SchneidermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2021Schneider (NYSE: SNDR), a premier provider of transportation and logistics services, became the first truckload carrier to conduct trial deployment of DADSS technology. Schneider outfitted 8 cabs with breath sensors in 2022, logging over 100,000 miles per vehicle for a total of nearly one million miles. Schneider is an industry leader in truck safety technology with history of early adoption of safety innovations.
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Driven to Protect Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Virginia became the first state to join the Driven to Protect Initiative in late 2016 through its DMV's Highway Safety Office. The Commonwealth supports on-road testing and increases public awareness and acceptance of DADSS technology. Partnership enables real-world vehicle testing and early deployment programs with companies like James River Transportation and Schneider.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Public-private partnership between ACTS (representing world's leading automakers) and NHTSA to invent, test, commercialize and deploy alcohol detection technologies in vehicles. Since 2008, ACTS has been working with U.S. Department of Transportation's NHTSA as part of this partnership to develop vehicle-integrated technologies to prevent drunk driving - known as the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) Research Program.
• James River TransportationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond-based company conducting in-vehicle, on-road test trials of DADSS technology since 2018. Ford Flex commercial vehicles equipped with breath sensors have driven over 77,754 miles, with over 15,020 hours of sensor operation and 98,472+ breath samples collected. Data and feedback from drivers invaluable for finalizing technology.
• Senseair ABcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSenseair AB is the innovator, developer and manufacturer of DADSS sensor technology. Leading global provider of air and gas sensing technology developing and producing small, cost-efficient high-precision, low-power sensors for high-volume production. Based in Sweden with over 25 years experience in infrared gas measurement technology. Part of Asahi KASEI Corporation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intoxalock: One of the largest U.S. ignition interlock providers; competes directly in the zero-tolerance fleet and DUI interlock use cases that ACTS's first-generation DADSS breath system targets.
• Lifeloc Technologies: U.S.-based manufacturer of professional breath alcohol testers and ignition interlocks used by law enforcement, workplace, and interlock markets. Closely comparable product portfolio and customer base (fleet safety, DOT compliance) to ACTS's fleet-focused DADSS deployment.
• Senseair AB: ACTUAL commercializing partner and sensor manufacturer for DADSS. Sweden-based, Asahi KASEI-owned infrared gas-sensing company that produces the alcohol sensor hardware ACTS licenses, making it the closest operational peer in the DADSS value chain.
• Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS): Long-established alcohol interlock and breath alcohol detection manufacturer serving commercial fleets, law enforcement, and ignition interlock markets. Directly comparable to DADSS's fleet alcohol-detection use case, though focused on interlock-style aftermarket deployment rather than OEM integration.

Broad incumbents

• Autoliv: World's largest automotive safety supplier (airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels) with growing ADAS and driver-monitoring investments. A broad incumbent in automotive safety that could integrate competing impairment-detection features into its OEM portfolio.
• Bosch Mobility Solutions: Major automotive Tier-1 with active development of interior monitoring systems (driver drowsiness/attention cameras) that could be extended to alcohol impairment detection, positioning it as a potential competitor to DADSS for OEM slots.
• Drägerwerk: Large German safety/medical technology company with a substantial breath alcohol detection product line (e.g., Dräger Alcotest) used by law enforcement and industry. Overlaps with DADSS's breath-sensing category but as part of a much broader safety/medical portfolio.

Others

• National Safety Council: Nonprofit safety organization that has partnered with ACTS (e.g., Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign management since 2005). Comparable as a long-standing traffic-safety nonprofit with overlapping mission and policy influence.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): Nonprofit automotive safety research organization whose studies (including the 9,400-lives-saved figure ACTS cites) inform the policy environment DADSS depends on. Comparable as a peer in the automotive-safety nonprofit space and a key external influencer on DADSS adoption.
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): National nonprofit advocating for impaired-driving prevention technology including DADSS. Not a technology peer, but a strategic counterpart in the advocacy ecosystem that drives regulatory and public demand for ACTS's offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACTSAutoSafety
• Facebookfacebook.com/DADSSTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actsautosafety

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety