Although alcohol is a legal substance, there are still certain rules to be followed when it comes to blood alcohol content while driving. Anyone is clearly prohibited from driving or performing any safety-sensitive function while he or she is using alcohol. The same stands true when a person has a blood alcohol content level of 0.04% or more as revealed by alcohol tests. A person is also prohibited from driving when he or she has consumed alcohol within the last four hours. The same rules apply for illicit drugs.
A person is required to undergo a drug and alcohol test after he or she has been involved in a road accident or when there is reasonable suspicion for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving. Random drug and alcohol tests are also conducted as a proactive measure to help keep the roads safer for motorists and pedestrians alike. There are also return-to-duty and follow-up tests that need to be complied with whenever necessary.
Over the years, advances in technology have made detection methods more and more sophisticated. These days, alcohol testing is typically done in two ways: through saliva testing devices and breath-testing devices. Urine alcohol tests are also available but they are not widely used for tests done on the road. An alcohol test can also be conducted with the use of hair samples and this method has started to become an accepted way of revealing alcohol use. The same methods are used for testing the presence or absence of drugs within a person's body.
Some people claim that there are ways to dodge drug and alcohol tests. However, detection methods have started to become more advanced that the best way to pass a drug and alcohol test is to keep yourself free of these substances when you know you will be taking the wheel.
Something the athletic organizations, forensics, insurance companies and large corporations will need to be aware of. Hair alcohol testing is one of the top methods because it can provide an accurate history of use and is the longest lasting piece of evidence.
