Customer Reviews for BACtrack - Element Breathalyzer - Black
Customer Rating
5
BACtrack S80 - easy to use - recommended
on April 28, 2012
Posted by: xyzzyx
from Cleveland, OH
Great product - does what it is intended to do - just follow the instructions. Nice carry case to protect the product and hold a few extra mouth pieces.
Is most appropiate size and accuracy for my use. Check BAC after restaurant or with friends. Can't afford to be "over". Have tested many others over the years, this one beats them all.
Accurate, Reliable, easy to use and carry and reasonablly priced. What's not to like. Just make sure you wait the suggested 15 min after drinking to avoid measuring the alcohol in your mouth. I can't tell you how many people have said they were "fine to drive" when leaving my house and a quick check with the BAC Trac said not really.
After a night of partying, this is a great device to check yourself out before driving the next morning - I've been surprised to find myself at .04 the next morning (which is too high for me so I wait to drive).
The thing is accurate if you blow with the correct flow (i.e. right above the threshold). There is an increase in percieved BAC. that is directly proportional to the rate of airflow inherent in each test. For example, If I blow just above the rate at which it recognizes my breath it gives me a reading of 0.101-.0.104 whereas if I blow as hard as I can it gives a reading of 0.500 (importantly, it is impossible for the device to read higher than that... and anyone with half of a brain would realize there is no way I could be typing this with a BAC of 0.500 as it is above a lethal dose). Therefore, it is insufficient for the device to claim to be as accurate as it claims to be without specifying the parameter of making the breath flow equivalent to the minimum detection specification.
My husband and I purchased this item after I served on a jury trial for DUI. We really had no idea what out BAC would be after a drink or two, and we were both suprised how intoxicated we feel and are still UNDER the legal limit! I definitely think the .08 standard here in CA is a rather generous one, and I find that at a .04 I would not feel comfortable behind the wheel of a car.This device is helpful as we now have a better understanding of what our limits are.