0.050 is just over the limit. The maximum permissable alcohol reading is 0.049.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete757
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0.050 is just over the limit. The maximum permissable alcohol reading is 0.049.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete757
I was at a friends place on New Years Day and had 9 beers over the course of the day from 1pm till 9pm. While I was not driving - my wife who didn't drink was my taxi driver, I was curious to see what my Blood Alcohol Level was. He and another person had an NRMA breath test unit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Basil135
We all used both machines and the others, who had been drinking beer, red wine and champagne registered differing levels from 0.06 to 0.15. None of these people were driving as they live within walking distance from my mates place. I registered 0.00. Both units had been recently calibrated so they should have been fairly accurate.
I ate a good lunch and full dinner which may have been a contributing factor. The point is how do you know what your level is? I was sure I would have been over the limit but I was not according to these units which are not cheap and promoted by the NRMA.
One of the girls who only had three glasses of champagne was the one that blew the highest whereas the guys who had been drinking steadily over the day showed a range of results much lower than her.
I never take the chance and when going out my wife and I share the designated driver duties. If I was however to have a day like the one mentioned above and then drove the next day what would my chances of being over the limit.
I remember when the limit in SA dropped from 0.08 to 0.05..
Almost overnight many social clubs and workers clubs closed down :o
I'm a supporter of 0.08 and believe the 0.05 is ridiculous.
And yes, have had a loved one killed in an MVA by a driver well over the BAC.
DUI and exceed PCA are very different things and I believe the DUI is more critical... As a previous poster remarked, I've seen people on their ear after 2 wines and seen people perfectly coherent and functioning after a bottle of Whisky.
The bigger risk, the one I think really is the major out there is fatigue.
Long hours, overtime, busy lifestyles... So many people are just buggered all the time... Wake up tired and control a MV at speed in traffic - not a great combination.
And whilst it can be covered under DUI we do not test like in the USA..
you dont. and thats why its safest to have a limit of zeroQuote:
Originally Posted by Chenz
steering wheel attendantsQuote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
In NSW DUI is only used when a breath test cannot be administered for one reason or another. Police officers are viewed as experts by the courts when it come to determining a persons level of intoxication. But this needs to be backed up with well documented observations ie slurred speech, unsteady of feet, bloodshot eyes etc. we use PCA because as you mention we do things differently to the U.S. and get a roadside reading as an indicator, if you are under you go on your way, having said that you could be on the way up the alcohol curve and whilst under the limit at that point you could be over in 30mins time if stopped again. If you blow 0.05 or above you go back to the station and get tested on the more accurate breath analysis machine. If you were on the way down the alcohol curve when stopped your reading will be lower, if you were on the way up it may be higher.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
The personal breath testing units are good but a guide only obviously. The ones in clubs can't be trusted, people have competitions to see who get get the highest reading. Out of curiousity on a night out I had 6 schooners over two hours so I tried the machine in the RSL club I was in and it said I was 0.039 which of course I wasnt.
Fatigue is certainly a problem, but it is hard to contend it is the major factor when the statistics clearly show that a driver above the limit is ten times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
Of course, no accident has a single cause, and a large proportion of fatal (and other) accidents probably involve both alcohol and fatigue, as well as other "causes" such as speed.
John
I have no doubt that your reading would have been Zero.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chenz
[/QUOTE]Quote:
Originally Posted by Chenz
If you stick to the one standard drink per hour you should be ok, as Ace and myself have previously stated. This is why you would have been zero on new years.
I recently had I can of of VB = 1.4 standard drinks. One and a half hours later, on a police breath test I registered zero.
This same scenario happened about six months ago, again zero.
A few years ago when a traveler was legal, I had consumed half a can of VB and was breathalyzed during the course of drinking it.
I had had a mouthful about 1 minute before being tested, so I would have had residual in my mouth, but I must have still registered under .05
The officer knew I was having a traveler, tested me and sent me on my way. In this instance I did not get to find out the reading.
I know I can have two VB cans = 2.8 standard drinks, in an hour and a half as I have also been breath tested and passed.
As for your home breathalyzers. If you do have a good one I would trust it up to .04, so if I read .04 or below IMHO I reckon you would be ok.
And my final word on this. If you followed the above you should be ok.
If you have ANY doubt, simple, DON'T drive.