In-car breathalysers

allanandjean
allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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edited November 2019 in General Chat #1

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

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2019 #2

    It will need to also cover drugs as that is it seems as much if not more of a problem

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #3
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  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited November 2019 #4

    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🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,033 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #5

    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.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited November 2019 #6

    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'.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2019 #7

    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.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited November 2019 #8

    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👎🏻

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #9

    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.

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #10
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #11

    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

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #12
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2019 #13

    No alcohol for at least 8 or even 12 hours before driving

    Most folk don't drink 8 hours before driving but that does not mean Zero alcohol 

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited November 2019 #14

    I suppose it will not be long before the clever Chinese come up with a battery powered fan blowing down a small tube to circumnavigate the drivers breath containing alcohol.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited November 2019 #15

    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.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #16

    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

  • CaravanRamblings
    CaravanRamblings Club Member Posts: 52
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    edited November 2019 #17

    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.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #18

    Hmmm. Must remember to inflate some balloons before nipping in to the pub. wink 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2019 #19

    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

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,033 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #20

    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. ☹️

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,809 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #21

    none alcoholic drinks

    An oxymoron, surely? 😀

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #22

    Ah, you’ve been caught by the old interchangeable non/none.

    No oxymoron there, Freddy.

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,809 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #23

    I took “none” to mean non, one sees this often.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,033 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #24

    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!😁 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #25

    It seems to perhaps be a north/south thing, TDA, and a bit like crumpets/pikelets - no rights or wrongs😀

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #26

    There certainly is a right and wrong. Its crumpet!

     

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #27
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,033 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #28

    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!

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #29
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  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
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    edited November 2019 #30

    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.