In the event of a DUI, you might need to take out a payday loan to bail yourself or a loved one out of jail. Regular Joes just don’t have that sort of cash lying around. A payday loan can help in the event of a trip to the clink, but iBreath, a new iPod accessory, can help you avoid the trip altogether. .jpg "iBreath")
Is that what I think it is?
Yes, iBreath is, in fact, a breathalyzer that you can hook up to your iPod. It requires no batteries and can plug in to your car. Once it’s hooked to the iPod or the vehicle, blow into the little tube for at least five seconds. Two seconds later, voila, it digitally shows your blood alcohol level.
This device will no doubt help drivers avoid having to take out a payday loan to cover expensive fines. More importantly though, advocates hope it will save lives.
Drunks in decline
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 13,000 people in died in the United States last year because of alcohol-related traffic accidents. This statistic is the lowest the NHTSA has on record. While the decline in deaths is good news, that means in previous years more than 13,000 people per year have died because of drunk drivers.
Groups such as DARE and MADD can take credit for spreading awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. Because of this rise in awareness, many people are taking responsibility and planning ahead. The best options on a night at the bars are to arrange for a ride home in advance, bring money for a cab or assign a designated driver. But we all know that sometimes things don’t go as planned. That’s where the iBreath comes in. This $79 device lets you know if “I’ve only had two beers” is really a good excuse to get behind the wheel.
Two sides to every story
The people who inveted iBreath did it to keep people safe. But as with all subjects that involve alcohol, there is controversy out there. Some dissenters think the iBreath will cause people to play drinking games. It may be true that some iBreath owners will use the device for fun. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if this device does result in the invention of new drinking games, they just may be the safest drinking games ever.
The other argument is that it may give some people a false sense of security. Every individual reacts differently to alcohol. Some people may still not be OK to drive even if their blood alcohol level is lower than .08. This argument I agree with. Drinking and driving is never, ever a good idea. But I think this device will do more good than harm.
Another warning out there is that police officers calibrate their equipment regularly. An article at BreathalyzersUSA details how often personal breathalyzers should be recalibrated.
No more one-trick ponies
Most technological devices that come out nowadays serve multiple functions. The latest version of the Nintendo Wii, for instance, doesn’t just play Wii games as well as GameCube games. It stores photos and has a photo editing function.
The iBreath is no exception to this modern multitasking rule. It doubles as an FM trasmitter so you can play your iPod tunes over the radio.
So add this to your bag of tricks for avoiding DUIs and injuries. A payday loan can help in financial emergencies, but it can’t keep you safe on the road.
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More people die in car wrecks than are killed by bullets in the United States per annum. Even though it seems a little funny to have this add on to an iPhone, this is actually a GREAT idea. The more people that we can keep off the road after drinking, the better. Way to go, Apple.
Great article great device if it saves even 1 life it’s worth it!
interesting product - people are overreacting to the possibility of misuse
I totally agree people are over worried about the misuse. There are breathalyzers one can already get and if they really wanted to they already could have done it.
This seems like it would be a great add on to the iPod or iPhone because their have been a few times i stepped into the driver seat just having one drink and was more worried about cops than my driving because i had no idea. This will be a really useful product keep up with stuff like this and Apple will have everyone buying!
People enjoy going out to a local sports bar or even a dance club on occasion. Some people enjoy going almost every night. Most of the people I know spend at least $60 on alcohol a night. If they could spend that much money on alcohol beverages on one occasion, they can certainly afford to skip one night and use that money to purchase a breathalyzer. I believe this will make their outings a lot more enjoyable.