Breathalyzers
Breathalyzers
A study conducted by CDOT among people given a smartphone breathalyzer to see their blood alcohol levels while drinking, often underestimated their level of impairment. They were also unaware that they could be arrested for a DUI with a BAC below 08. Read the 2019 Breathalyzer Research Report online.
Since many people aren't aware of the dangers (and legal consequences) of driving after consuming even small amounts of alcohol, the message is simple — if you have been drinking, don't drive.
To help reduce alcohol-related crashes and save lives in Colorado, CDOT and BACtrack® have partnered to encourage the use of personal breathalyzers. Alcohol affects everyone differently and your BAC can be affected by a variety of factors.
A breathalyzer is the best way to get an accurate BAC reading. Even one or two drinks can put you over the DWAI or DUI limit. Don't risk it; know your BAC is zero before you decide to drive.
Previous Breathalyzer Campaigns
Many Coloradans may not realize the amount of time it takes to return to sobriety after consuming even a small amount of alcohol. In reality, the slightest amount can impair a person’s ability to drive. A single beer can stay in your system for up to two hours.
CDOT’s Take Some Time campaign aims to raise awareness about the time it takes for a person’s blood-alcohol content (BAC) to return to zero after consuming alcohol. The campaign will use images of alcoholic beverages to show how long a given amount of alcohol can potentially stay in your system.
Even if your BAC is less than .05 percent (DWAI limit), you can still be charged with a DUI if you show signs of impairment. The only absolute way to ensure you are safe to drive is to have a BAC of zero.
CDOT and BACtrack hosted the “Breathalyzer Brunch” at Spanky’s Roadhouse in Denver for media and 20 participants to share DUI-prevention messages and promote breathalyzer use.
CDOT, BACtrack and the Denver Police Department spoke and interacted with participates throughout brunch and supported participants as they learned how to use a BACtrack breathalyzer, tracked their consumption and discovered how drinking impacts their BAC levels.
Participants received a BACtrack breathalyzer (a $100 value) and were given Lyft ride credit for travel to and from event.
CDOT and BACtrack provided Coloradans with an unprecedented 50% discount on personal breathalyzers. Between July and September, 2,866 Coloradans purchased discounted BACtrack breathalyzers.
CDOT’s Coloradans to Blow Before Driving campaign kicked off the discount with a “beer and yoga” event designed to get people thinking about using personal breathalyzers to understand their BACs at everyday drinking events.
Watch the video to see what happened at the yoga session!
In 2017, CDOT and BACtrack launched the Before You Go, Know campaign at a Sky Sox game in Colorado Springs. See what happened at the game!
In 2016, CDOT distributed 225 BACtrack Mobiles to Coloradans. After using the breathalyzers, 84% of participants agreed owning a smartphone breathalyzer lowered their risk for a DUI/DWAI.
Check out the video and see what participants had to say about using their BACtracks.
