What can affect the accuracy of a breathalyzer test?

The accuracy of a breathalyzer test can be significantly affected by calibration issues. Breathalyzers must be properly calibrated and maintained to ensure that they provide accurate readings. Calibration refers to the process of adjusting the device to ensure it measures blood alcohol content (BAC) accurately according to known standards. If a device is not calibrated correctly, it may give false readings either too high or too low, leading to an inaccurate assessment of a person's BAC. This is critical, as legal outcomes and penalties can be based on these results.

While environmental factors, the time of day, and the driver's age can have various effects on driving and intoxication levels, they are not direct influences on the functioning or accuracy of the breathalyzer device itself. Calibration is a fundamental requirement to ensure that the technology is reliable for use in law enforcement and court proceedings.