Breathalyzer - A new breathalyzer device will be tested in the Western Cape over the next 3 months. This follows previous devices which were found by the High Court to be inaccurate. The idea is that the device will not be used as the final proof of intoxication - it is used to show if a driver may be above the
legal limit. If it indicates a driver may be above the
legal limit, the driver is taken to a facility where a proper blood test is
conducted. A driver may be fined or
sentenced to jail if the blood test confirms the driver is over the legal limit. Traffic authorities confirmed that the device may potentially be used on a national basis, if it is found to be successful in the Western Cape.
What is the limit? Roughly two beers or two
glasses of wine should put a driver at risk of being over the legal limit. Drivers should therefore be careful not to put the licences at risk buy driving under the influence of alcohol.