These days, people use their smartphones for everything from banking and dating to calendars and fitness. In 2022, it makes sense that there’s a way to use them to help prevent drinking and driving.

Smartphone breathalyzer technologies have been on the rise, appealing to those who want an easy and convenient way to see if they’ve had “one too many” before getting behind the wheel.

One of the most widely used and well-respected smartphone breathalyzers to emerge in recent years is BACtrack mobile, a portable breathalyzer that syncs to smartphones like the iPhone and the Android via an app and Bluetooth pairing. The goal of this device is for drivers to make safe and responsible decisions when determining if they’re sober enough to drive.

But should drivers be trusting the accuracy of the percentage on the screen? The argument is more nuanced than it may seem.

A smartphone breathalyzer like BACtrack mobile or Nothacker is a pocket-sized device that pairs with an iPhone or Android to determine the blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC) of a user moments after he or she blows into it for an allotted amount of time. The federal legal alcohol limit is 0.08%, so if a driver blows anything above it, they should wait to drive or find another way to get to where they’re going.

What’s even more impressive is that these devices can also compute the amount of time that needs to pass before the user is under the 0.08% limit and is legally permitted to drive. The devices can even determine when the user will be completely sober with a 0.00% BAC. Users have the option to keep their results private or share them on social media, which serves as a strong incentive for younger drivers.

While smartphone breathalyzers may seem like a breakthrough in safe driving technology, recent studies have shown that they may not be as accurate as their creators intended. When compared to blood tests, the most accurate way to measure BAC, these devices fall short.

Virtually every smartphone breathalyzer tested in these studies reported that the user had a lower BAC than the blood test, proving that putting faith in these devices might be a risky move. While the breathalyzers themselves have a wide range of accuracy, there are other factors like improper use of the device and technological glitches that could get in the way of producing clear results. Even if the device is only a fraction of a percentage off, it’s a fraction of a percentage that can lead to a DUI or worse.

That being said, certain devices’ levels of accuracy did compare to the breathalyzers that police use when pulling people over. Yet, if there is even a slight chance that the smartphone breathalyzers could be off, they shouldn’t be fully relied upon. Drunk driving is a serious risk that can endanger the life of the driver and others. If the decision to drive is dependent on a device that has the potential to be inaccurate, it’s not a risk worth taking.

In a perfect world, all devices would be precise, and no one would drive with a BAC greater than the legal limit. However, we don’t live in a perfect world and because of this, there are many initiatives in place to incentivize safe driving. In the state of Georgia, the government does everything it can to keep all of its drivers safe. Some of the state-wide anti-DUI strategies include:

• Sobriety checkpoints: police stops that measure intoxication levels and ensure that drivers are legally allowed to drive
• Alcohol screenings and interventions: assessments at jobs and other professional settings that determine when someone needs help for an alcohol-related issue
• Media campaigns: programs and literature created to help inform the public of the drunk driving epidemic and ways to prevent it
• School-based instructional programs: outreach geared toward young drivers that teach them to make responsible decisions when getting behind the wheel
• Ignition interlocks: devices that prevent the car from starting if the driver has been drinking
• License suspension/revocation: when the state takes away a driver’s license for a temporary or permanent period of time due to unsafe driving practices

Let’s say you’re in the state of Georgia and you find yourself pulled over and in the process of getting a DUI. Maybe your smartphone breathalyzer didn’t give as accurate a reading as you had anticipated or maybe you had one too many without realizing it. Whatever the case may be, this is a scary situation to find yourself in, and it’s easy to panic and start thinking the worst. The most important thing you can do is stay calm and call a lawyer as soon as you’re able.

Michael Fulcher of Michael Fulcher Law is an attorney who specializes in DUIs and criminal defense cases. He’s an expert in the field with more than 17 years of experience and is here to assist you. He offers free consultations and is available to answer any of your DUI-related questions.

Getting a DUI can be overwhelming, and Michael Fulcher is here to help make the best of a difficult situation. He will fight for your case and fight to protect your future and freedom.

Contact the firm directly to set up a free confidential consultation. Reach out today.

CALL NOW 705 438-1555