Discussion
Any collective wisdom on the handheld breathalyzers that can be purchased for self use? Good make / models etc.?
Out for lunch yesterday which turned into dinner and supper too, the host was very adept at topping up the glasses and frankly i have no idea how much of what i consumed (although i did draw the line when the absinthe came out!). I didn't feel wobbly leg, spinning head drunk at any point but was merry.
This morning was a bit groggy and hazy and i took time and extra care on the drive to work. Upon arrival i realised that i really shouldn't have driven in and reflected that had I got a self test breathalyzer then i would have used it and not driven on the advice of the machine.
Out for lunch yesterday which turned into dinner and supper too, the host was very adept at topping up the glasses and frankly i have no idea how much of what i consumed (although i did draw the line when the absinthe came out!). I didn't feel wobbly leg, spinning head drunk at any point but was merry.
This morning was a bit groggy and hazy and i took time and extra care on the drive to work. Upon arrival i realised that i really shouldn't have driven in and reflected that had I got a self test breathalyzer then i would have used it and not driven on the advice of the machine.
There was something in the news fairly recently that said they weren't that good, and most of them said you would have been safe when in fact you would have been over the limit.
At work (delivery driver) we were told for every unit on average it's a hour plus one hour to leave your body (so a bottle of bud which is two units would be three hours, two bottles would be five hours). Of course this is different for everyone.
Working for the police as well, I've dealt with a lot of people the morning after.
At work (delivery driver) we were told for every unit on average it's a hour plus one hour to leave your body (so a bottle of bud which is two units would be three hours, two bottles would be five hours). Of course this is different for everyone.
Working for the police as well, I've dealt with a lot of people the morning after.
Soov535 said:
I have an alocsense.
It seems acccurate enough, I've tested it after one, two three pints and so on.
Legal limit is 0.8 so if I blow more than LOW then I am very wary. If pushed I will drive on a 0.3 but not beyond to give good leeway.
I have one of those, too.It seems acccurate enough, I've tested it after one, two three pints and so on.
Legal limit is 0.8 so if I blow more than LOW then I am very wary. If pushed I will drive on a 0.3 but not beyond to give good leeway.
The reviews I read said they're pretty good although I too err on the side of caution with it.
rewc said:
Strange that the French have made the carrying of one in a car compulsory. they have though in true French fashion instructed the Police to not enforce it.
I believe that was due to the fact the company that made then was owned allegedly by a close relation to the then president. So was dodgy to the leastThe only true fire way, is to keep track of units and add 3 hours on for safety
Drinks can add up quick, say a 14% bottle of wine is 11 units. Not a lot on its own really for some, add a couple of pints and you are looking at at least 15-16 hours to clear system.
Start drinking at 7pm and at 7am you would still have around 4 units still in your system.
I know people are different but drinks do start adding up.
Drinks can add up quick, say a 14% bottle of wine is 11 units. Not a lot on its own really for some, add a couple of pints and you are looking at at least 15-16 hours to clear system.
Start drinking at 7pm and at 7am you would still have around 4 units still in your system.
I know people are different but drinks do start adding up.
rewc said:
Strange that the French have made the carrying of one in a car compulsory. they have though in true French fashion instructed the Police to not enforce it.
NOT!!!! Stopped about 6 months after they announced the rubbish, as they were not, and could not, be used in court as totally inaccurate!PorkInsider said:
Soov535 said:
I have an alocsense.
It seems acccurate enough, I've tested it after one, two three pints and so on.
Legal limit is 0.8 so if I blow more than LOW then I am very wary. If pushed I will drive on a 0.3 but not beyond to give good leeway.
I have one of those, too.It seems acccurate enough, I've tested it after one, two three pints and so on.
Legal limit is 0.8 so if I blow more than LOW then I am very wary. If pushed I will drive on a 0.3 but not beyond to give good leeway.
The reviews I read said they're pretty good although I too err on the side of caution with it.
baldy1926 said:
rewc said:
Strange that the French have made the carrying of one in a car compulsory. they have though in true French fashion instructed the Police to not enforce it.
I believe that was due to the fact the company that made then was owned allegedly by a close relation to the then president. So was dodgy to the leastThey are pretty good, but you must not buy a cheap ebay special, and you must allow a margin of error.
Study:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/12/e005811.full#T...
The problem with the study is that they didn't identify any sort of confidence interval for accuracy.
The Elite is advertised as having a +- 0.2 ‰ BAC accuracy. So 0.6 ‰ could be 0.8 ‰, for example.
The device reports if the reading is within the 'maybe' range, however the study apparently did not record the actual readings.
A better study would give a spreadsheet with the actual readings. For instance, if half of the positive tests were over 1.5 ‰, then that's not much of a benchmark.
And equally, a reading of 0.75 ‰, for example, is very clearly 'do not drive', because of the +- 0.2 ‰ accuracy. So what were the failed readings on the device? If the device said 0.4 ‰ and it was actually 0.9 ‰, that's rather worrying, but if the device said 0.7 ‰, but it was actually 0.82 ‰, well that's not really a surprise.
IMO, IF the device is accurate to the stated 0.2 ‰, at a confidence interval of at least 99%, then it's a pretty good guide, but I don't think there are any answers on this, nor on long-term stability and reliability.
Study:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/12/e005811.full#T...
- Alcosense Single - only 17% accurate, avoid
- Drager Alcocheck (also single use) - 95% accurate
- Alcosense Elite - 90% accurate
The problem with the study is that they didn't identify any sort of confidence interval for accuracy.
The Elite is advertised as having a +- 0.2 ‰ BAC accuracy. So 0.6 ‰ could be 0.8 ‰, for example.
The device reports if the reading is within the 'maybe' range, however the study apparently did not record the actual readings.
A better study would give a spreadsheet with the actual readings. For instance, if half of the positive tests were over 1.5 ‰, then that's not much of a benchmark.
And equally, a reading of 0.75 ‰, for example, is very clearly 'do not drive', because of the +- 0.2 ‰ accuracy. So what were the failed readings on the device? If the device said 0.4 ‰ and it was actually 0.9 ‰, that's rather worrying, but if the device said 0.7 ‰, but it was actually 0.82 ‰, well that's not really a surprise.
IMO, IF the device is accurate to the stated 0.2 ‰, at a confidence interval of at least 99%, then it's a pretty good guide, but I don't think there are any answers on this, nor on long-term stability and reliability.
JMGS4 said:
NOT!!!! Stopped about 6 months after they announced the rubbish, as they were not, and could not, be used in court as totally inaccurate!
They were never intended to be used in a court of law but by the driver themselves. The French government hoped that with breathalysers in every car, drivers who suspected they may be over the limit can test themselves and if necessary refrain from taking the wheel.The Police would continue to use their standard issue one when carrying out testing. The law in carrying them is still in force but the Police have been instructed not to enforce it. This is how the AA explain it "January 2013 - Drivers in France have been required to carry a self-test breathalyser since July 2012 with enforcement by fines originally planned for 1 November but subsequently postponed to 1 March 2013. Now the French government has announced that the implementation of the sanction (fine) for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely."
Do you know different?
Edited by rewc on Tuesday 27th October 14:26
Another test here, using a method which would look like it might give more consistent test environment than someone doing the blowing themselves.
http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2015/05/ge...
http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2015/05/ge...
Thread resurrection, couldn't find a newer one.
Had a session yesterday, started drinking at 1pm, finished about 4am. Drank at a consistent rate and got through 3 bottles of 14% red wine and 4 or 5 bourbons. Went to bed at 9am, woke at 1pm when the room just about stopped spinning.
Walked over to Halfords, bought an Alcosense Elite and at 2.15pm I've just blown <0.2% ?? That can't be right surely?
I'm not going to be driving anytime soon.
Had a session yesterday, started drinking at 1pm, finished about 4am. Drank at a consistent rate and got through 3 bottles of 14% red wine and 4 or 5 bourbons. Went to bed at 9am, woke at 1pm when the room just about stopped spinning.
Walked over to Halfords, bought an Alcosense Elite and at 2.15pm I've just blown <0.2% ?? That can't be right surely?
I'm not going to be driving anytime soon.
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