There are now many new regulations regarding penalties for exceeding the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit while operating a motor vehicle. So, how do you measure BAC accurately, and what are the penalties for exceeding the limit? Let’s find out in this article!
1 Why Measure Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in Breath?
Alcohol is a potent hallucinogen that can severely impair the nervous system, causing disorientation and loss of self-control. For those operating motor vehicles, alcohol can easily lead to accidents.
Therefore, traffic police use breathalyzers to test BAC through breath analysis to determine whether a driver has consumed alcohol and is fit to operate a vehicle safely.
Alcohol consumed by an individual is absorbed through the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines into the bloodstream. Research shows that alcohol does not change chemically in the blood. Thus, when blood passes through the lungs, alcohol evaporates and moves through the respiratory membrane into the air.
Measuring BAC in breath to assess driver’s alertness
2 How to Calculate BAC in Breath
BAC in breath is calculated using the formula: B = C/210
Where:
B: BAC in breath
C: BAC in blood, calculated using the formula: C = 1.056*A/(10*W*R) (where A = amount of alcohol consumed in standard drinks, W = body weight, and R = alcohol absorption constant based on gender, with r = 0.7 for men and r = 0.6 for women)
For example: A 65kg man consumes 440ml of 5% beer, equivalent to 2 standard drinks. His BAC would be C = 1.056*2/(10*65*0.7) = 0.04641, or 46.41mg/100ml of blood.
Consequently, his BAC in breath would be calculated as: B = 46.41/210 = 0.22mg/liter of breath. This BAC level would result in a fine from the traffic police.
After drinking beer, how long should one wait before driving? The formula for calculating the alcohol elimination rate is as follows:
Elimination rate: T = C/0.015.
Using the previous example, T is calculated as: T = 0.04641/0.015 = 3 hours. This means that a 65kg man who consumes 440ml of 5% beer needs to rest for approximately 3 hours before driving to avoid a fine.
Calculating BAC
3 Regulations and Penalties for Exceeding the Permissible BAC Limit
According to point c of clause 6, point c of clause 7, and point e of clause 8 of Article 6 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP:
A fine of VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 shall be imposed on drivers who commit one of the following violations:
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Driving with a BAC below 50 miligrams/100 mililiters of blood or 0.25 miligrams/liter of breath but still detectable.
A fine of VND 4,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 shall be imposed on drivers who commit one of the following violations:
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Driving with a BAC between 50 and 80 miligrams/100 mililiters of blood or between 0.25 and 0.4 miligrams/liter of breath.
A fine of VND 6,000,000 to VND 8,000,000 shall be imposed on drivers who commit the following violation:
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Driving with a BAC above 80 miligrams/100 mililiters of blood or 0.4 miligrams/liter of breath.
Excessive BAC levels may result in penalties
The above formulas provide a way to calculate BAC in breath, but they are only approximate as several factors can influence BAC. It is best to refrain from driving after consuming any amount of alcohol to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
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