Machines to check alcohol in breath acting like alcoholics; necessity of functioning breath analyzers higher than new busses 

If a human makes a mistake, it can be corrected, but if a machine makes a mistake, it cannot be corrected on its own. Instead, it keeps repeating the mistake. Today human life is not possible without dependence on machines. Health-related tests are the most machine-dependent sector. Any machine needs periodic servicing and other checks for its accuracy. Without doing so, the machines will sometimes give false results. The biggest recent example of this is the false result of the breath analyzer used by the KSRTC for drunkenness tests.

The incident is as if it can be assumed that the officials went for the inspection in Kothamangalam with the breath analyzer that someone had bought for a low quotation after accepting a commission and piled in the corner. That is because after one stage the machine labeled all those who blew into it as alcoholics! At the Kothamangalam depot, this unfit machine tested the breath of those who blew into it and gave a 'certificate' that they were alcoholics. Some people who had never drunk in their life blew on the machine. Even then, the machine said to catch the person by emitting a sound. That's when, at least some of them suspected that the machine had come drunk in the morning. When the staff insisted that the inspectors also blow, they too blew in the face of the machine. The machine did not show partiality or lie, the 'righteous' machine insisted that his masters had come drunk too.

Thodupuzha inspectors Ravi and Samson reached the depot at 3.50 am on Wednesday morning to find out if the employees of the Kothamangalam depot were drunk. The machine didn't catch anyone at first, probably because it didn't work. When conductor PV Biju, who was about to leave for the Palakkad service at 8.50 am, blew, the machine indicated 39 percent alcohol content. Biju, well aware that he was not drunk, argued. Duty Station Master Shaju Sebastian also supported Biju. Then the inspectors asked Shaju to blow. When Shaju, who was not drunk, blew, it was found that his breath had 40 percent alcohol concentration. It was then decided to check the female employees. Showing that office worker Rasheeda had 35 percent and store keeper Ambili 40 percent alcohol concentration, the 'Enthiran' remained unshaken. As the employees got agitated, those who came with this 'broken machine' apologized and left.

No vehicle should be driven drunk, not just KSRTC. It is also good to check and catch such people. Transport Minister KB Ganeshkumar had said in the Assembly that when the inspections were tightened, the accident rate was reduced from eight to two per week. The most welcome thing is that the minister said that a system will be put in place to pay the employees on the first day of every month itself. If this is made possible then the minister will get the support of the entire staff and even the corporation will be able to come out of the pit of loss. The minister also said that new buses will be purchased. Anyway, some quality breath analyzers should be brought along with it. If the officials who come down with the breath analyzers are instructed to take a look and ensure their accuracy before going for checking, such scandalous dramas can be avoided.