Breathalyzer

The modern breathalyzer is an interesting device used for measuring the amount of alcohol on your breath, and capable of calculating your BAC (blood alcohol content) based on this reading. The breathalyzer sees use in many different areas of the world, from police work to use in schools and more. They are routinely installed in vehicles for drivers convicted of DUI and you can even find personal devices able to be carried on your person. These devices, while imperfect, represent the best defense against DUI in many different forms. How are they used?

When a driver is convicted of DUI in certain areas of the country, the court mandates they install a breathalyzer in their vehicle. This device must be installed for the driver to continue holding a driver's license. When used in this type of application, the breathalyzer is installed on the steering column. The driver must breathe into the device and wait for the reading before being able to start the vehicle and drive away. If alcohol is detected in any amount at all, the driver is unable to start the vehicle and the computer records the infraction. Usually, these readings are extracted from the computer on a regular basis, by law enforcement authorities.

Another area in which breathalyzers are seeing use is in the public school system. Breathalyzers are used at school functions such as dances and sporting events to ensure that any student drinking is caught and unable to endanger others by driving. This provides enormous peace of mind for parents, teachers, school administrators and, of course, other drivers. Some school systems are even debating mandating the use of breathalyzers during the normal school day, to catch students drinking between classes or on their lunch breaks. However, this plan has caused some controversy and may not come to fruition.

Finally, personal breathalyzers are becoming available to the public. These devices are small and can be carried easily. The reasoning behind this is so people can self-check their BAC, avoiding the dangers of drunk driving. This is one of the most innovative uses of the technology and has tremendous ramifications for the future of road safety and awareness. If more people were to carry these devices with them during their "night out" excursions, a dramatic reduction in DUI-related accidents and fatalities could be expected. The breathalyzer is a tremendous tool and holds enormous promise for the future.