Michigan Uses Talking Urinal Cakes To Reduce DUIs, Scare Drunk Men Sober

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 3, 2012 1:30PM

Men: if you happen to be in a bar in Michigan for the Independence Day Holiday and are using the urinal when it suddenly starts telling you to take a cab home, first ask yourself why you're in Michigan for the holiday. And don't try to drown out the voice with your stream. Instead, pay attention.

It's all part of a new program by the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning to distribute talking urinal cakes to bar and restaurant owners in an attempt to reduce drunk driving.

The program is targeted mainly at men, who are three times as likely to get behind the wheel under the influence in Michigan. A motion activated sensor in the cake triggers a woman's voice who asks the unsuspecting person situating himself next to the urinal, "Had a few drinks? Maybe a few too many?" before offering a reminder to take a taxi home or hand the car keys over to someone sober.

Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning director Michael L. Prince said, "While this message isn't new, the method of delivery certainly is. Not only do we want to turn some heads and get people talking, we hope everyone takes the message to heart."