RE: Just blow into this sir...
Wednesday 4th August 2004
Just blow into this sir...
Transport Minister samples anti-drink drive technology
New technology to prevent drink drivers from using their cars was today put to the test by Road Safety Minister, David Jamieson.
The alcohol lock (alcohol ignition lock) will be fitted into cars of convicted drink drivers as part of a research project across Birmingham and Bristol. Recruitment of volunteers for the research also begins today. If the 18-month pilot is a success new legislation could follow allowing the courts to use alcohol locks as part of their drink drive rehabilitation programmes. The alcohol lock device fits into the car's ignition and the driver must take a breath test to check blood alcohol levels - if they are too high then the car will not start. The technology also includes a random testing function, which monitors the driver en route to make sure they have not consumed alcohol since starting the car.The research project is looking for convicted drink-drivers who are about to have or have recently had their licences back to take part.
In 2002, around 13,000 drink related accidents resulted in about 20,000 casualties, of which an estimated 560 were killed - representing 16 per cent of all road deaths. Drink drive deaths fell from around 1,700 in the late 1970s to 460 in 1999 but have since started to creep up again.Discussion
Oh yeah! Silly me, I was relying on trust and consideration, but they went out the window years ago!
In that case Im all for them being fitted. AS long as they are only linked to the ignition and not the door locks. At least then in the winter if one is over the limit you can get in the car and wait!
In that case Im all for them being fitted. AS long as they are only linked to the ignition and not the door locks. At least then in the winter if one is over the limit you can get in the car and wait!
aww999 said:
These things will EASILY be able to tell if you are blowing atmospheric air (ie trying to cheatwith a fan/bellows) or genuine exhaled air into them by checking CO2 and moisture concentration.
And the response to the "unalduterated childs breath" would be ??
How easily do you think it will get around that ??
filmidget said:That probably wouldn't work as the air would cool down too much before you need it. Apart from that being detectable, it would also lower the concentration of moisture in the air.
OK then, blow into a balloon before drinking starts...
It sounds like a reasonable idea to me except that:
If using laser/radar detectors and holding up a sign warning of a scamera patrol is "perverting the course of justice" surely use of this device would be too? They are both about modifying people's behaviour to comply with a law that would otherwise have been transgressed.
Well-meaning but alas too easily defeated with the help of an obliging partner-in-crime.
What always bugs me about technology though, is what if it goes wrong? What if, sober as a judge, it won't let you start your car, or cuts out the ignition whilst the car is moving?
When the Ges..sorry, Government have complete control over our cars (breathalyse to start, stops you when you go over the limit, controls which roads your car operates on, charges you a king's ransom to go everywhere), what will happen when something goes wrong on the motorway, or something, and everything piles into you. Technology, unfortunately, is as stupid as the human who programmed it, and if there's a glitch, we'll be paying for it for god knows how many years.
What always bugs me about technology though, is what if it goes wrong? What if, sober as a judge, it won't let you start your car, or cuts out the ignition whilst the car is moving?
When the Ges..sorry, Government have complete control over our cars (breathalyse to start, stops you when you go over the limit, controls which roads your car operates on, charges you a king's ransom to go everywhere), what will happen when something goes wrong on the motorway, or something, and everything piles into you. Technology, unfortunately, is as stupid as the human who programmed it, and if there's a glitch, we'll be paying for it for god knows how many years.
Check the small print - you'll also have to hum into it - seems it's set to have some kind of voice recognition.
Also, it's only going to apply ( at the moment ) to convicted D/D's and then only if they're willing to cough up the £500 installation fee and £300 ( I think ) per year running cost!
Another pig's ear from the Government.
Also, it's only going to apply ( at the moment ) to convicted D/D's and then only if they're willing to cough up the £500 installation fee and £300 ( I think ) per year running cost!
Another pig's ear from the Government.
there is an unspoken modesty about our current way of obtaining drink-drivers. If you don't drive like an idiot, you don't get pulled over to be verified as being over the legal limit! This way, if you are someone who can adequately maintain your control in spite of a few, you get away with it. extensions of the law such as the alco-lock deny such talented people their loophole.
proof:
Someone tell me what happens when bars close every night. People who have been imbibing alcohol all night, perhaps at a slow pace to maintain their consitution, are put outside of the bars to get back into their cars and drive home. Do you REALLY believe that every car that left the bar and arrived home safely had a designated driver that evening? Isn't it more likely that someone well over the legal limit but who has been drinking for years has developed the ability to tail off their drinking towards the end of the night so that they are sobering on the trip home, and close to/completely sober before the time they arrive? I did it last night, and I did it a couple weeks ago. Nobody died, I didn't even fail to stop at a stop sign.
proof:
Someone tell me what happens when bars close every night. People who have been imbibing alcohol all night, perhaps at a slow pace to maintain their consitution, are put outside of the bars to get back into their cars and drive home. Do you REALLY believe that every car that left the bar and arrived home safely had a designated driver that evening? Isn't it more likely that someone well over the legal limit but who has been drinking for years has developed the ability to tail off their drinking towards the end of the night so that they are sobering on the trip home, and close to/completely sober before the time they arrive? I did it last night, and I did it a couple weeks ago. Nobody died, I didn't even fail to stop at a stop sign.
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