Breathalyser

Personally would never drive knowingly intoxicated, but there are times such as the following day, where it's very difficult to know whether you are over the limit or not. Having a breathalyser is imo a very sensible precaution.
 
Personally would never drive knowingly intoxicated, but there are times such as the following day, where it's very difficult to know whether you are over the limit or not. Having a breathalyser is imo a very sensible precaution.

Or if you know you will driving the next day you restrict the amount you drink to a couple :p
 
the problem is exactly what I said in my post, even one drink SIGNIFICANTLY increases reaction times regardless of whether you are below the legal limit? Legal limit being 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, 34 would be below the legal limit 36 obviously being above which isn't exactly a huge difference so why is it morally ok to drive at 34 vs. 36?

Does it really? I probably drive once or twice a week after having had a drink and I can honestly say I feel no different to when I haven't had a drink at all. Obviously, if I was genuinely drunk then I'd be crazy to get behind the wheel of a car, but one or even two pints of weak beer over several hours doesn't do anything to me at all, and I'm not the biggest guy in the world. Certainly, I know I'd be well under if I blew on a breathalyser.

Happy to be proved wrong, but I do think there's rather too much hysteria around drink driving. Yes, driving drunk is very dangerous, but so is driving on drugs, driving whilst extremely tired/angry, driving whilst ill etc etc, and they're barely given any publicity at all. I'm often amused by how my friends at uni won't touch a drop of alcohol when they're driving, but will happily drive around whilst texting or with bald tyres.
 
Does it really? I probably drive once or twice a week after having had a drink and I can honestly say I feel no different to when I haven't had a drink at all. Obviously, if I was genuinely drunk then I'd be crazy to get behind the wheel of a car, but one or even two pints of weak beer over several hours doesn't do anything to me at all, and I'm not the biggest guy in the world. Certainly, I know I'd be well under if I blew on a breathalyser.

Happy to be proved wrong, but I do think there's rather too much hysteria around drink driving. Yes, driving drunk is very dangerous, but so is driving on drugs, driving whilst extremely tired/angry, driving whilst ill etc etc, and they're barely given any publicity at all. I'm often amused by how my friends at uni won't touch a drop of alcohol when they're driving, but will happily drive around whilst texting or with bald tyres.

I totally agree with you!

Edit

True, but emergencies can arise. ;)
That's why a breathalyser seems like a handy tool.
 
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any alcohol in the blood stream does increase reaction times, just because you can't 'feel' it doesnt mean it doesnt exist. That isnt to say being overtired is any better than drink driving, but consuming any amount of alcohol will reduce your driving ability. Also tired driving is given plenty of publicity, if you have ever driven on UK motorways for any length of time you will certainly have seen plenty of "don't drive tired" "tiredness kills, take a break" signs.
 
Would agree that any alcohol makes a difference to reaction times. When the amount is low people may not even notice it either, which is why I think the limits should be lower to avoid the attitude that one small drink before driving is ok.
 
Would agree that any alcohol makes a difference to reaction times. When the amount is low people may not even notice it either, which is why I think the limits should be lower to avoid the attitude that one small drink before driving is ok.

Personally I think there should be a zero tolerance, removing all doubt then
 
Okay ppl the conversation is starting to go offtopic. I've only been given names of two breathalysers, and tons of safety babble...
 
any alcohol in the blood stream does increase reaction times, just because you can't 'feel' it doesnt mean it doesnt exist. That isnt to say being overtired is any better than drink driving, but consuming any amount of alcohol will reduce your driving ability. Also tired driving is given plenty of publicity, if you have ever driven on UK motorways for any length of time you will certainly have seen plenty of "don't drive tired" "tiredness kills, take a break" signs.

I have seen those signs, but they're the only reference to tired driving I think I've ever seen. I've never seen a TV campaign, or an item on one of those police camera shows about it, despite the obvious dangers.

Anyway, let's say I'm out with some people I've just met, and they've seen me have a pint or two. At the end of the night, I then offer them a lift home. I'm willing to bet I'd get a few funny looks, and people would probably encourage me not to drive.

Now let's say I'm in the same situation, but haven't had anything to drink, and instead keep yawning all night. I'm pretty sure they'd happily take the offer of a lift and think nothing more of it, despite the fact I'd be much more dangerous behind the wheel. Driving after even one or two drinks is socially unacceptable, driving whilst tired or ill just isn't, or not to anywhere near the same degree. And, IMO, that's really stupid.

Personally I think there should be a zero tolerance, removing all doubt then

What about if you've had mouthwash, or some food with alcohol in it? Zero tolerance sounds like an absolute nightmare to me. I genuinely think there's no problem with the limit as it is right now.

Okay ppl the conversation is starting to go offtopic. I've only been given names of two breathalysers, and tons of safety babble...

Sorry, it's just a subject I feel strongly about :p My friend has one of these, I've tried it a couple of times and it seems good to me.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alcosafe-25...8&qid=1392156479&sr=8-2&keywords=breathalyzer
 
You guys do know that the law surrounding the requirement for breathalysers in France was more or less dropped?
The self-test breathalysers still in theory remain "law", however with no legislation in place to enforce fines for non-compliance you really don't need them.
 
Sorry, but I've asked for some reliable breathalysers, which are also useful... If I feel the need to gain more knowledge about the law, than I'm 99.99% sure THIS website will be the best place.

Edit

I was thinking what to get for someone's birthday, it's hard to think of anything for a person who has everything. Breathalyser seems like a fun and useful present, anyway to me it does...
 
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