In-car breathalysers
Just seen this on the RAC website;
Breathalysers must be able to be fitted into all new cars from 2022 following a landmark decision by the European Council.
The technology, that could prevent drink-drivers from starting their engines, was approved in March but has only just been rubber-stamped by European officials last week.
The UK’s position is yet to be confirmed, but the current Government has previously said it will mirror European road safety rules post-Brexit.
Cars made before 2022 will have to comply with the new rules by 2024. Road safety charity Brake has labelled the move the “biggest leap forward for road safety this century”.
Comments
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Excellent idea(on paper) but the execution of it could throw up anomaly’s for sure. Sledgehammer to crack a nut situation I think. I’m not a fan of taking choice away from folk. Plus if we don’t adopt will that then impact on Brits driving abroad🤷🏻♂️
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I don’t think 100% of human beings can be relied upon to do the decent thing Rocky sadly. Any technology that can prevent Drink/drug driving, and speeding are ok by me. I had words with someone racing up and down on my Mum’s tiny little road a couple of months ago. He wasn’t a youngster either, late 20’s early 30’s was my guess. He did stop that day, but one of Mum’s neighbours did tell me he had turned his car over a week or so later on nearby country lane. Some folks have no idea of the consequences of their actions.
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Hi R2B, Not sure if anyone involved in a drink drive incident would agree with the view that its a 'nut' sized problem and as for choice that's a view that is put forward to justify many undesirable things and sometimes action has to be taken to protect people, sometimes themselves, with seat belts being a good example.
As for being a 'good idea',just did a quick Google on the thread title and it comes up with a UK company who already provide such equipment, Alcolock GB, and one of their customers is National Express-so its already more than just a 'good idea'.
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Cars made before 2022 will have to comply with the new rules by 2024.
Doubtless an excuse to charge punters some exorbitant fee to update their vehicle. That's going to be a lot of vehicles too.
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A&J, TDA, I understand your concerns completely👍🏻, I see this as a potential problem that could impact some/many. Anomaly’s-the determined drunks will continue regardless, they’ll just drive old or cut & shut motors. I know of people being arrested for over the limit driving to then get to the station & are allowed home due to the supposed drink being medicine. What limit will the in car breathalyser be set at?, Will it stop you driving if it is minutely over, are these in car breathalysers reliable, is the technology proven?. These are my concerns, certainly not allowing drunks on the road👎🏻
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This technology is already in use on the continent. It is my understanding that coach drivers in France have to use one of these before starting the engine.
Anomalies will occur. How do you prevent the non drinking passenger from blowing in it in lieu of the driver, for example? I'm all for anything that will take dangerous drivers off the road. They have tried various methods to eradicate the problem of non insurance and speeding and yet we still have those, but any reduction will help.
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I can see it being of useful in cases where people currently show little regard for the limits. However I wonder if, at the other end of the scale, some will be tempted to drink a little more to test the limits of the technology? I am thinking of those people who strictly limit their drinking to one glass of wine or one pint of beer which in normal circumstances won't take them over the UK limit. Will they be tempted to try another glass of wine or a second pint? Just because the technology says its OK doesn't mean it is. I suppose another question is will it be able to be adjusted for the different drink limits in different countries or will all countries have to have the same limit?
David
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Hi All, feeling a bit Johnny Nash so if it helps;
SYSTEM OPERATION
From a breath sample, the Alcolock® measures the amount of alcohol present which must be under a pre-set level to enable the vehicle to operate. The Alcolock® can be configured to accommodate any level from zero alcohol present, through to the legal limit, depending on the policy of the company or organisation. In the event of the Alcolock®detecting an excessive alcohol reading and the vehicle being immobilised, the system will re-set itself and be ready for a further breath sample to analyse. As soon as the Alcolock® reads a sample under the pre-set limit the vehicle will start and be able to operate normally.0 -
I wonder if it is clever enough to only allow a sample from the person sitting in the driving seat? If someone gets out of the driving seat is it automatically reset? It crossed my mind that a passenger, who had not been drinking, might give the sample? To the majority of people this would seem a stupid thing to do but I was once told by the wife of someone with a drink problem that he was well able to handle the car when he had, had a good drink because he was used to it!!!!
David
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As already stated, the drug driving problem is more of an issue than alcohol.
Anyone can blow into these (passenger etc) and if they were to become widespread, anyone so inclined would purchase a device to blow air into the machine.
Best policy - hang 'em high.
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Hmmm. Must remember to inflate some balloons before nipping in to the pub.
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I was once told by the wife of someone with a drink problem that he was well able to handle the car when he had, had a good drink because he was used to it!!!!
There is a degree of truth in that David. Not that it is a good thing to do
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I can’t find myself having any nice thoughts about people who drink and drive. It’s just so unnecessary in this day and age where there are lots on none alcoholic drinks available. Society is lucky if they only kill or injure themselves, but sadly it’s all too often innocent others who get caught up. ☹️
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Ah, you’ve been caught by the old interchangeable non/none.
No oxymoron there, Freddy.
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Not sure about “drinks”. You do get drinks that aren’t alcoholic. “Beer” and “wine” might fit the bill, as generally either brewed or fermented.
You are second poster to question my “none” rather than “non”, guess it must be a local quirk. Either way, I meant it in the “doesn’t have any” way!😁
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It seems to perhaps be a north/south thing, TDA, and a bit like crumpets/pikelets - no rights or wrongs😀
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There certainly is a right and wrong. Its crumpet!
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Interesting DD. We grew up calling crumpets, pikelets! Those larger flatter toasting items are called oatcakes up here, think they are possibly Derbyshire/Staffordshire in origin? There is a link to brewing, I think they all have yeast in!😁
Edit.....if you ask someone from Scotland for an oatcake, you will get something totally different!
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Just another step on the government sponsored NUDGE theory program to stop people drinking alcohol.
Another piece of legislation that inconveniences and costs the vast majority of totally law abiding people that will be dodged by the law breakers.
Speeding kills and injures hundreds of times more people than drinking and driving. Technology is currently fitted to many vehicles to automatically restrict the vehicle to the speed limit. They are not brave enough to roll that one out though.
Any traffic cop will tell you that a huge number of D&D convictions are repeat offenders, mainly because they are easy to catch. They will not and do not conform, they never will. They will just cheat the test.
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