Uncertain whether you are fit to drive after one of the festive season's booze-ups? The pocket-sized AlcAlert breath alcohol detector is claimed to instantly detect if a motorist is over the legal limit.

Uncertain whether you are fit to drive after one of the festive season's booze-ups? The pocket-sized AlcAlert breath alcohol detector is claimed to instantly detect if a motorist is over the legal limit.

Gauging how close to, or far over, the legal blood alcohol limit you are by counting the number of drinks you've consumed is not an accurate exercise. And with year-end parties and holidays to look forward to, many will find themselves consuming one too many for the road.


The maximum blood alcohol limit that is allowed for motorists is 0,05 gram per 100 ml of blood and the corresponding breath alcohol limit is 0,24 milligram per 1 000 millilitre of breath. The AlcAlert device takes a reading of a person's breath alcohol and then calculates and displays an equivalent blood alcohol level reading, said a spokesman for Precision Safety Appliances - the distributor of the product. He added that the product's readings would have a 10 per cent variance because the blood alcohol count readout is rounded off to the second decimal (thus a reading of 0,051 would be displayed as 0,05, but a reading of 0,059 will be displayed as 0,06, for example).

The size of a standard plastic cigarette lighter, the device is compact enough to carry in your pocket or handbag when out on the town.

Easy to operate, the AlcAlert beeps when it is ready for use and again after the breath sample is registered. About 20 minutes after having your last drink, blow into the unit and the LCD screen will display the readout within seconds.

Results are displayed in increments of 0,01 per cent and the blood alcohol concentration is measured ranging from 0,00 per cent to 0,12 per cent.

The device operates on two AAA batteries, which are included, and lasts for about 300 tests - enough for several nights out on the town!

With one-touch operation and a backlit display for use in dark, discreet corners, the unit also employs the latest semi-conductor gas sensor technology.


The device, which costs R420, is available from www.safetyappliances.co.za or phone 031 202 0094 for more information.


However, CARtoday.com offers subscribers to our daily e-mail newsletter the opportunity to buy the AlcAlert for the special price of R396. The offer is valid while stocks last.

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Original article from Car