Everyone knows that you should never drive while intoxicated. If you are at all concerned for your ability to operate a vehicle with precision and clarity, you should not get behind the wheel.
In an effort to make smarter decisions while consuming alcohol, more and more people are buying portable breathalyzer devices. There are even apps and devices that work with your smartphone. Many of these external devices connect to smartphones, like the iPhone 6, through their Bluetooth function and a compatible app. If you’re looking to be safer and smarter while driving, consider the following tools:
1. Breathometer
Breathometer offers two devices that help you estimate your blood alcohol concentration. The first device model attaches to the headphone port on your smartphone and requires the Breathometer app. You don’t need a mouthpiece to work this device and it gives you important information, such as when you should be sober again. The second model, called the Breeze, is completely wireless. You can even attach your car keys to it as a friendly reminder to yourself or friends. Best of all, it doesn’t require any warm up time and gives you your results in seconds.
2. Alcohoot
Like the Breathometer devices, Alcohoot uses a device that attaches to your smartphone and an app. It comes with eight mouthpieces, which should be replaced after each use. It uses an FDA-registered fuel cell sensor, which helps it give you more accurate results and is the same technology that the police and military use. It also includes a feature that helps you hail a cab if you are too intoxicated to drive and one that helps you locate open restaurants nearby.
3. BACtrack Vio
The BACtrack Vio device is one of the most portable devices. It is about the size of a pack of gum and is designed to be attached to a keychain. It gives you an estimation of when your blood alcohol content will return to 0.00 percent. It can be used with most iPhone and Android models.
Be Smart
Although smartphones are a great way to monitor your general blood alcohol content, it is unwise to rely on them in place of general good judgment. Remember: It’s always best to avoid any amount of drinking when driving.
A recent review of various devices indicated that while they all can tell you that you have had too much to drink in order to drive, each device may give you a different estimation of your blood alcohol content. These devices are a good jumping off point, but it is still vitally important to use sound judgment and know that any consumer-purchased device may not be entirely accurate.
There are many other ways you can use your smartphone to prevent drinking and driving, as well. You can use a ridesharing service, such as Uber or Lyft, or you can call a cab or a friend to come pick you up. No matter where you are or what time it is, the safest choice is to not get behind the wheel.
Source: Social Monsters
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