Which breathalyser?

[tram]

Has anyone any experience of breathalysers? I see there are the electronic ones and the other ones, and various prices. I just have not got a clue which way to go.

I don't want to be having to replace cartridges and things to keep in date or something; I just want something in the van which will just check me very accurately. I mean, I am never going to be obviously over, but I want to be sure I am within legal limits wherever I am in the country, just to be sure I am not over at all in the slightest

So what is the best way to go to have such a device?

 

[Caravellet6]

Why bother spending money, if I’m driving I only have a single drink, often none at all, works for me.....

 

[Andrew]

It’s the morning after you have to worry about.

 

[tram]

Yes, the morning, and Scotland, and five hours after steak, eggs, chips, and 2 pints in spoons 5 hours later when you come out of the cinema. Or maybe at a wedding and you want to toast.

The thing is that it needs to be accurate, because it might be a fine line. And the permanence of calibration longevity. Maybe the non-electronic ones have something going for them.

For instance, I had three-quarters of a bottle of wine last night about 9pm ish. It is now 5.45am. I've had a good sleep and a breakfast, I feel fine. But perhaps I would not be right to drive, and if not, when? And this means it will be a fine line, so needs to be very accurate. I'm not on about getting leathered out on the lash totally bladderated and wondering if i am safe to drive.

 

[Davenjo]

I use an AlcoSencce Elite (circa £60 from Halfords) - it lives in the van.

Like other comments above, I never drive after even a single drink but it is the morning after that worries me. Having a drink is a big part of camping for me - using a breathalyser before driving home the next day just gives me the assurance that I am fit to drive.

Usually you know yourself but there have been a couple of occasions where I have woken up after a few drinks and felt totally fit to drive but, according to the breathalyser, I was still over the limit - all I do is delay departure until I’m well below the limit - without the breathalyser I would have driven home unaware I was over the limit.

 

[Blitz]

Good idea @Davenjo. Your right about mornings

 

[tram]

I have ordered two, AlcoSense Lite, for £40, and an AlcoSense Elite for £60.

I think having the two will give me extra reassurance that I am getting an accurate reading and everything is working properly.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Dieseldonkey]

@ Tram raises a very good point there. For those that are not aware and are planning a trip north. The legal limit in Scotland is 22ugs/100ml of breath as opposed to 35ugs/100ml of breath in the rest of the UK.

However, there is a separate UK wide offence of driving whilst being impaired through drink/drugs. In theory you can be under the legal limit, pass a roadside breath test, but your ability to drive is not what it should be. You could still end with a night in the pokey and a future date at court, up against the evidence of the doctor, whom the Police summoned to examine you at the time you were arrested.

Police road side breath test units are calibrated atleast once a week. The main intoximeter used back at the station for court purposes does a calibration check before and after every test. As much as I understand and sympathise with folks desire to make sure they're safe and legal, personally I would be very wary of placing my trust in an off the shelf device that sits about in a glove box for extended periods of time.

 

[Roadrunner]

Yep first hand, got stopped by the police one moring for being erattic. Problem was I saw them behind me and got nervious thinking they wanted to overtake but no they stopped me and gave me the test. Paseed easy as I had not drunk anything. Gave that up ages ago. They told me to keep away from the kerb or I might get a puncture. Why upi need to buy one is beond me if your drinking then don't drive simple then you don't need to waste money on buying a kit