Drink Driving

[stu999]

No you were right the first time,

' but tomorrow.....'

Leave it at home tomorrow morning also!

Its always the morning after that we (well I) often forget about.......

Absolutely!!!

Even though hopefully all here will not go anywhere near a car if they are on the pop, it is the morning after - and possibly days -which is the dilema.

I used to go out once a month 'on a bender' with some good friends. After one particularly heavy night out, one of my mates was feeling particularly rough. So much so that on the Wednesday after the Saturday before, he was still not too well, and went to the quacks. When his blood test results came back, he was asked whether he was a alcoholic - as there was still alcohol in his system...  

Although funny at the time, on reflection it does make me wonder how 'safe' a person is to drive, possibly even a few days after a good night out. And more to the point, how do you know for sure?

Chaz, don't take the above the wrong way mate, I am certainly not trying to condone DD by any stretch of the imagination. However, I do believe that there maybe a few drivers who may end up getting caught out, who may honestly think they are perfectly safe to pilot a vehicle.

Obviously, the driver of the lorry was fully aware of what he was doing - IMHO he should of been charged with murder. There would never be a suitable sentence to help take away the pain and anguish of your sad loss, but TBH that sentence took the pi55...  

[chazpowerslide]

I think that 20 years back it was'nt as socially un-acceptable as it "appears" to be today it seemed to be the norm.

I remember that my Dad used to have a fair few after rugby on Saturday and Sunday and drive us all home (as did about 200 other rugby club members) as the threat of loosing his licence increased over the years he stopped drinking altogether.

When I worked on the wrecker trucks as an apprentice I'd say at least 40% of the accidents we cleared away were due to DD and there were some really bad ones.

I think setting a limit leads people to "believe" they are under it as they don't actually what their limit is.

Having a limit makes it acceptable to have a drink and then drive and as Frau Vesty says most people don't actually know what the limit is as it applies to them.

If there was a limit of zero with zero tolerence in inforcing it people would know where they stood, it would be black and white, no discussion.

This would effectivly lower the consumption of all drivers (think about the morning after issues for a start) and alter the majority of peoples drinking habits.

I rekon the reason why a zero limit would never be made law is because the goverment would loose more mony on tax revenue on alcohol than it spends on clearing up the aftermath as things are at present.

Hey Ho  

Chaz.

[simple]

I agree with a zero limit it would make things crystal clear. Just as an aside I was drinking Holsten Alcohol Free lager down the boozer last night which when you buy 2 bottles to put in a pint glass, costs........ north of £4. Pint of lime and lemonade.....£2.30

It would be nice if drinks companies took their responsible drinking campaign as far as subsidizing soft/alcohol free drinks for designated drivers. I live in a small village and the nearset pub is 4 miles away so one of us always has to drive.

[deano.1]

I feel for anyone who has been devastated by drunk drivers, i like a drink as much as the next bloke but the car never goes with me to the club!

[neilb]

There is no excuse for drink driving but there are a number of factors that lead people to try and get away with it.  The increased use of speed cameras has lead to a greater number of people drink driving and the price of soft drinks in pubs, it is often much cheaper to buy a pint than a coke.

The other problem that is not being address is the increased number of drivers that are under in the influence of drugs, whether it’s the Chavs in their Novas or the old dears on 10 different prescription drugs.

[Frau Vesty]

It would be nice if drinks companies took their responsible drinking campaign as far as subsidizing soft/alcohol free drinks for designated drivers.

Subsidising!  Ha!  Soft carbonated drinks made from a syrup must cost a pub literally pennies to produce, so surely there's no need to subsidise, just chop a little off what must be the extortionate profit of those drinks.

[david.c]

I think a lot of that stems from the fact that the "unit" measurements were set some time ago when wine was around 8-9% and an average beer was 2.5-3%.  So people don't realise that a half pint of stella or a small wine nowadays contains substantially more than the 1 unit of alcohol they think it does.  

Good point.........and on top of that, wine used to be served in 100 or 125ml servings............now most are 175 or 250ml

David

[Toby Mack]

If there was a limit of zero with zero tolerence in inforcing it people would know where they stood, it would be black and white, no discussion.

yes people would know where they stand but it would pretty much guarantee that everyone driving is over the limit. That pint you had 3 days ago (or the mouthwash you used last night! ) would be enough to lose your licence.

As others have said, my view is that the problem is not where the limit lies but how it is communicated and enforced.

[neilwillis]

Why is drink driving acceptable -

It isn't!

[Jan Coombes]

I'm from the countryside and it all quite relaxed, (not recommended, but no one will rip the keys from your hand either) but the police have been hitting the country roads this year trying to get people taking back roads to avoid them.

I've only done it once in this country (felt OK but thought I would be over if stopped)

As I am being honest the thing that put me off the most was the thought of damaging my car, and not being able to drive my westfield, if banned.

But when you hear stories like our good friend Chaz, it makes you think, it just not worth it.

For the younger people (that’s me ) its hard understand how much you can have and still drive 1.5 -2 pints (I think).

The best thing is to stay off the road all together, go to your local pub via fields on a quad.   much more fun and you can get as sloshed as you like.

Hurts when you fall off mind.  

Say safe and think about not being able to drive your Westfield in the summer there's a sobering thought.

[scruffythefirst]

For the younger people (that’s me ) its hard understand how much you can have and still drive 1.5 -2 pints (I think).

I'm a younger person and It quite clear how much you can have and still drive......

And ITS NONE AT ALL.

[Frau Vesty]

its hard understand how much you can have and still drive 1.5 -2 pints (I think).

Well ("none at all" argument aside) that's my point exactly.  1.5-2 pints of what?  For an average sized person, 1.5 pints of gnats p*** may well keep you comfortably under the limit, the same amount of Stella or similar might well put you over it.  Added to that the fact that no two people will be affected the same, and it's no wonder that there is confusion as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit.

[Thrustyjust]

looks like another drink related death on the roads last night near me,shame the driver survived and killed another lady motorist coming the other way.I'd call it murder personally.

[Fat Albert]

If  nobody, ever, drank and drove, there would still be 200 drink related deaths in the annual accident statistics plus thousands of injuries. Why?, because accidents involving drunk pedestrians are included in the 'drink related' totals.

Thousands of people drink & drive regularly, they are, rightly, condemned as irresponsible because they are less safe than they would be sober.

Why then are the tens, nay hundreds of thousands of incompetent, unsafe drivers tolerated on our roads every day?, a good proportion of whom are less safe sober than the above group drunk.

The problem is competence, drunk or sober. Deal with the problem not the symptoms.

[Mike]

i read in my local paper a couple of weeks ago that some pubs in middlesbrough town centre will give a driver of a group of people free soft drinks. just need to prove that your driving (show keys) and that your with a group of paying customers. so steps are being made.

mike