Breathalyzer: why test your blood alcohol content?

Performing a blood alcohol test with a breathalyzer is as simple as it is beneficial.

Blowing a few seconds into the device is enough to obtain a result and allows you to make an informed decision since alcohol is a major source of accidents. It impairs the ability of drivers long before they reach a state of intoxication. If the allowed alcohol level is exceeded, the penalties are heavy.

Thus, upon arrest, there is immediate suspension of the license and immediate seizure of the vehicle, the duration of which varies depending on the situation. Following the criminal conviction, there is a ban on driving for a minimum of 1 year, revocation of the license which may vary between 1 to 3 years or more, installation of an ignition interlock device, criminal record, minimum fine of $ 1,000 and ban to drive for a minimum of 1 year.

Consequence of drinking and driving regarding road safety

Alcohol causes many fatal accidents every year. In addition to impairing driver skills, alcohol exacerbates risk-taking while driving.

Impact of alcohol on road accidents

In Quebec, it is estimated that each year, on average, between 2015 and 2019, drink driving was responsible for 85 deaths (24%) and 220 people seriously injured (15%).

Canada does not have comprehensive statistics on the impact of alcohol on road safety, but it is nevertheless estimated that approximately 30% of fatal road crashes are caused by drivers with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Which in 2019, corresponded to around 600 lives lost.

Effects of high alcohol blood content on the driver

The effects of drinking and driving are well known. A driver is impaired by alcohol as soon as he reaches a level of 0.05 g of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (50 mg / 100 ml), long before he is intoxicated. A blood alcohol level above the legal rate causes in particular:

• An increase in reaction time and a decrease in reflexes

• A narrowing of the visual field

• A poor appreciation of distances

• Hypersensitivity to glare

• Drowsiness.

In addition to these physiological effects, alcohol affects driver behavior. Euphoric, alcohol increases risk-taking, even at low blood alcohol levels. Hence the interest of checking your alcohol level with a breathalyzer or breathalyzer before driving.

Penalties for exceeding the legal alcohol level

The Criminal Code sets the legal blood alcohol content at 0.08 g / 100 milliliters of blood or 80 mg / 100 ml of blood. In addition, there is legislation specific to each province. Some of them lower the legal rate to 0.05 g of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

In the event of a positive test by law enforcement, the penalties are severe. Thus, as mentioned above, upon arrest, there is immediate suspension of the license and immediate seizure of the vehicle, the duration of which varies depending on the situation Following the criminal conviction, there is a ban on driving for a minimum of 1 year, revocation of the license which may vary between 1 to 3 years or more, installation of an ignition interlock device, criminal record, minimum fine of $ 1,000 and ban to drive for a minimum of 1 year.

The use of a breathalyzer: a quick and easy assessment of the alcohol level

Electronic or chemical, the breathalyzer is a small device that can be easily stored in a vehicle. It allows a driver to ensure in a few moments that his blood alcohol level complies with that dictated by the Highway Safety Code.

Why performing a blood alcohol test with a breathalyzer?

Before driving, use a breathalyzer, as it is the only tool that can measure alcohol blood content easily. We can try to assess it based on the amount of alcohol consumed, its sex and the period during which the consumption took place. But this way of doing things only gives an approximation.

For example, a woman weighing 120 pounds (54 kg) could in principle drink two standard drinks (either 2 glasses of wine, or 2 glasses of beer or 2 glasses of hard liquor) within an hour and reach the legal limit of 0.08 (80 mg alcohol / 100 ml blood). A 175-pound (79 kg) man could take 3 standard drinks.

Thereafter, both individuals would excrete about 15 mg / hour, provided their liver is working well, they have not taken any medication, are not physically or psychologically tired, etc. Subsequently, if these two people continued to drink, their alcohol levels would rise depending on their own rate of alcohol absorption. As you can see … it is not easy to keep track of your alcohol count … without using a breathalyzer.

To ensure the reliability of the result, the blood alcohol test with a breathalyzer (electronic alcohol detector) must be carried out at least 30 minutes after the last sip of alcohol since the alcohol level usually rises within an hour and this, between 10 and 30 mg / 100 ml of blood.

Principle of the alcohol test with an electronic or single-use breathalyzer

Since alcohol has the property of diffusing into water and the human body is made up of 70% water, the vapors of water exhaled in the breath are thus mixed with the alcohol consumed. The breathalyzer is equipped with a sensor able of measuring the level of alcohol exhaled by the person performing the test.

Single-use breathalyzer

The single-use breathalyzer is a breathalyzer that comes in the form of a small tube and contains chemical crystals that change color depending on the individual’s alcohol blood content. Thus, crystals that are initially white will turn purple, passing through pale pink and medium pink depending on the rate. It is a practical and economical tool especially for occasional users or companies who wish to offer a detection tool to their employees when attending corporate events.

The electronic breathalyzer

Unlike the chemical breathalyzer, the electronic breathalyzer displays a numerical rate, i.e. the level of alcohol in the exhaled air entered in milligrams per 100 ml and expressed in the for of % BAC (blood alcohol content). The electronic breathalyzer is reusable but it needs to be calibrated regularly according to the device’s procedures. Obviously, you must use a new tip for each user.

The breathalyzer is useful for drivers to help them comply with the laws of the various provinces, whose authorized alcohol levels may vary.

An essential tool for road safety, the breathalyzer allows you to drive with full knowledge of the facts. Whether you are looking for an electronic breathalyzer or a single-use test, buying a breathalyzer online is just a few clicks away. A simple gesture that is useful for your safety and that of other drivers.