Like them or not, random breath tests are being used more often. Breath testing is no longer restricted to erratic drivers. Police officers routinely administer breathalyzer tests to suspect drivers to find out if they have been drinking. Now they administer tests randomly and this has people debating the merits and drawbacks of the practice.
Of course, everyone wants our roads to be free from the hazards of unsafe drunk drivers so strong drunk driving laws and the use of breathalyzers on suspect drivers generally has strong support. However, administering random breath tests without cause has turned into a different story. With random breath testing, officers can choose to pull over drivers randomly, say every 50th car. The driver is required to take an alcohol test. Those who refuse would be prosecuted as would those who fail the test, even if no driving infractions had occurred.
Those in favor of random driving test point out that the increased attention and awareness that their vehicle could be stopped would encourage fewer drivers to drink and drive. These random tests would allow courts to keep more drunk drivers off the road to reduce fatal car accidents. The testing might also be useful for targeting those drivers who constantly down a few drinks and drive. These individuals are unable to have a healthy relationship with alcohol and are more likely to be a risk to themselves, pedestrians, other drivers on the road and passengers.
Opponents of random breath tests on the road point out that police time and resources could be better utilized, tracking down individual’s obviously displaying drunk driving behavior instead of randomly stopping anyone. Though random alcohol tests are already being conducted in some countries, research has not shown a corresponding decrease in drunk driving records. Another concern is the worry that police officers might falsify positives in order to get random breath testing out of the way and move on to more important police work or just to meet quotas. Instead, opponents feel that resources would be better spent on anti-drinking promotional campaigns.
Increasingly, random breath testing has been used in workplaces and schools. Just like with breathalyzers used for spotting drunk drivers these random tests have their fans and critics. In workplaces and schools, breath test can help ensure a safe environment for all. In certain professionals such as construction, pilots and operators of commercial vehicles, being under the influence could result in loss of limbs and kill not only the drunk but many innocent victims. Companies report reduction in serious on the job injuries and a safer work place when using random breath tests.
The biggest complaint among those who are against random alcohol tests at work and school is the invasion of an individual’s privacy. However, fans of it point out that the safety of the public outweighs one individual’s right to privacy. Though some individuals have worried about false positive and the loss of time from work, breathalyzer tests continue to become more refined and individuals only need to blow into a tube to get result in just a few minutes; however, when conducting a large number of breath tests workplace productivity can slow down. Both sides do agree that getting alcoholics access to alcohol treatment centers and other forms of assistance is vital for increased safety of everyone, on and off the road.
Penned by Robin Saunders, an experienced writer that tackles numerous topics such as alcohol, DUI, breathalyzers etc. The author uses a breath tester himself and it’s time to get one for yourself.
