Technology advances so quickly that it seems like there is some new big thing every day. The next phone, app, or lighter-than-air tablet is guaranteed to cause a massive scramble for the nearest retail store. People love technology enough to wait in line for hours and paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars just to have it. Fortunately, the same tech advances that can cause mass hysteria also created many important advances that improve people’s lives.
The technology in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) products is finding a reliable home in BAC apps
One of these advances is the BAC app. This app works with a handheld breathalyzer that uses your Bluetooth device to take readings of your BAC level. BAC testing relies on specifically calibrated devices that give an accurate, court-proof reading. If used with a fuel cell handheld BAC tester with Bluetooth, BAC apps are quickly becoming just as reliable as a police breathalyzer or ignition interlock device, while reducing the need for both of those “in-your-face” situations.
The tried and true ignition interlock device uses the same technology as a police breathalyzer and has a long history of accurate readings and effective use. A BAC app on your phone cannot shut down your car so that you cannot drive it. It does not necessarily prevent drinking and driving. An ignition interlock device will make certain you cannot drive your vehicle by shutting down if your BAC is above the preset limit. It will keep you from endangering yourself and others by getting behind the wheel.
If the goal is to protect our roadways from dangerous drivers, the ignition interlock device is the more accurate, trustworthy technology available. However, for monitoring parolees or chronic alcohol abusers on a daily basis, or just testing yourself before heading home after happy hour, the BAC app is an effective tool to prevent DUIs.
A Second Chance for Texas DWI Drivers