ajm

A mate recently bought a breathalyser that is supposed to be pretty accurate and produced it as we were driving home hungover from a stag do in Southampton. Yes, not very good timing I know, and the irony of possibly being stopped for driving without due care because the driver (I shall not say who) was busy failing a breath test wasn't lost on us!

Bearing in mind we left it as long as possible before leaving the hotel the results were a little shocking to say the least!

So, are they a worthwhile investment, or would you rather take your chances and not know?

djuk

Neither really, if I know Im going to be driving I simply won't have any more than 1 drink. It's just not worth the risk to other people and my car/possibility of a prison term

Account deleted by request

There have been some mornings in the past where I would rather just not know.

If I had one and failed the test would I walk too work? would I b@lls.

So it would be a waste of money buying one

chopper

Brendan Hughes

Given that you imply the results of yours were ignored, it sounds like it was a waste of money. Maybe I misread your post.

ajm

Yeah, I am thinking more of the "day after" situations where it is hard to know.

djuk

Ah I use a far better solution than that for the next day, just stay in bed eating bacon butties until I feel ok

ajm

That's the problem, often when you "feel ok" the next morning it is because there is still enough booze left in your system to camouflage the hangover!

djuk

I suppose if you're responsible enough to take note of what the reading tells you the next day and act on it then it's a great idea, I'm just wondering how many people would get a positive reading and still think "I'm ok really".

A good idea in principle I suppose

ajm

Maybe you did. It was worth it to see you roll out the disapproving tone though!

SupaMiniCupa

As a matter of Interest - which one have you bought? ...and where from?

MJW

Since its easier to get rid of herpes than a DR10, I usually make sure I don't have to drive before 12 if I go out on the lash

SupaMiniCupa

Depends how much you drink and when you stop drinking I reckon...?

On average, isnt alcohols supposed to exit your bloodstream at 1 unit every hour (starting when you have your last drink?)

scott8629

I though your body will start getting rid of 1 unit/hour as soon as you start drinking????

ajm

Not mine, a mate's. I think he got it from a website, maybe boystoys, circa £80.

ajm

oh yes, they all do, even if you buy the same unit the police use!

The Chief

My old fella bought one from the states and i always said to him it was a load of b****cks and it could not be accurate blah, blah, and dont trust it anyway his neighbour is a senior copper in traffic and he had it calibrated and it is bang on
so if he decides to have a couple (before you start going off on one he is a very big bloke and yes it does make a difference) to be on the safe side he blows into it and if he is more than 1/2 the limit then he leaves the car at the pub.
Only surefire way is not to drink at all but very very handy for the morning after.

ajm

That's rather worrying!

I have always been suspicous of using a breath sample to determine blood alcohol content, but I suppose they always do a blood or urine test once you have failed the breath test, don't they?

Manda_po

They only offer a blood test if you are only marginally over the limit.

HTH

ajm

That is marginally more worrying then! Can you demand a blood test?

douglasb

Apparently not. I know someone who was breathalysed about a year ago and blew positive. He was taken to a police station where the breath tester came up with 42 of whatever the units are (lower of 2 readings). The limit is 35. He was told (and I have checked this with a friend who is plod) that if the reading had been under 40, he would have the "benefit of the doubt" to do away with any allegations that the machine was inaccurate. (At 40, it would need to be out by about 15% to produce a false positive).

As his reading was borderline, he was offered a blood test. This came back negative, BUT he had to wait a couple of hours for the doctor to attend the police station to take the blood sample. So, there is no contradiction between the original breath sample being positive, the more accurate reading also being positive, and the blood sample being negative.

He was told that if the breath reading in the police station hadn't been just over the limit he wouldn't have had the blood test option. ie. The test machines may not be 100% accurate, but if you blow 55 you are over the limit; they don't over-read by 60%. Two similar readings from one of the machines in a police station is enough to secure a conviction.

ajm

Your mate was a luck boy. Bet he was cacking himself!

ajm

As an aside, my old man was pulled in Guernsey (where they don't have portable breathalysers) and had to do an old fashioned "roadside sobriety test", walking along the kerb stone touching his nose etc!

In the end the officer deemed him "glassy eyed" and he was whisked back to the station (stopping briefly so my Dad could explain over the radio to the copper who was left behind to drive my dad's car how to disable the immobiliser! )

They got to the station, where they have the big breathalyser, and he tested negative by miles, as expected, since he hadn't had a drop. He was released immediately!

ajm

If it needed saying then I'm sure he said it!

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

bought a cheapish breathaliser kit from makro i returned it after having a night out and it only just registered that i was unfit to drive at the time i was having double vision but i have seen a good one for sale which i fully intend to buy, but you always know if your over the limit in the morning, its just admitting it and refusing to drive as it never happens to you does it get caught that is