How much can I drink and still drive?

[Derek Smith]

Tiff after a typical occasion of driving faultlessly:

[jith]

XCP said:

This is not the first time Mr Jith has warmed to this theme, if I recall correctly.

And it is most definitely not the first time that the DS has chilled to it in the extreme.

J

[jith]

Derek Smith said:

Tiff after a typical occasion of driving faultlessly:

And here was me thinking we were discussing drink driving on a public road.

Silly me,eh?

J

[NRS]

Reg Local said:

What we don't see, because it's not always as obvious, are the numbers of drivers and riders who aren't looking properly. The ones who pull out without looking, or without checking their mirrors. The ones who look no further in front than their own windscreen wipers.

"Driver/Rider failed to look properly" was recorded as a contributory factor in 44% of all reportable accidents in 2014. 50,400 accidents - 379 of them fatal - were caused by drivers or riders simply not looking properly at where they are going and at what's going on around them.

I would suspect part of those statistics are actually the result of driving tired though like Derek was saying - just it's impossible/ very hard to prove. Tiredness certainly leads to reduced observation or "stupid" reacts like pulling out when there's not time etc.

GT03ROB said:

It does seem to be a British obsession, that's also shared with Australia. I wonder how much of this is driven by the Anglo-Saxon inability to drink sensibly?

Certainly in my times working in the US there was no real pressure about DD & the police were fairly relaxed about it. In West Africa again having a day on the beach with beers & driving home was totally the norm, the police/military couldn't care less, generally the biggest risk being them trying to take whatever you had left for their own consumption.

So the question I would ask is if there was no law against drink driving or the punishment was a fine the size of your taxi fare, would you all have the same attitude?

Part of it is the social stigma - there has been a lot of focus on it and speed and that has effectively brainwashed a lot of people into the view - at least on the night while drinking (maybe not the next day). Now the facts support this in terms of people being killed and "x" percentage of people being involved in accidents. However there is a large percentage of other reasons that perhaps would save more people if dealt with instead.

I guess the US is also effectively the same as rural areas in the UK - you "have" to drive everywhere, so police are more understanding (as they have the same issue) and it's also a bigger consequence on the person when needing the car and not having other transport available. So they don't crack down on it as hard.

grumpy52 said:

I can only go on what I have experience of ,I used to inspect and photograph damaged cars for a bodyshop ,albeit it was about 15yrs ago .
Talking to some of the customers they all spoke of the hidden costs ,they all maintained they were stupid to risk it for the sake of a twenty quid taxi fare .

Not meaning it is ok, but surely when comparing the costs you would compare all the taxi journeys of twenty quid compared to the cost of petrol when driving and getting busted?

[Marvib]

My limit is one, but even then I have my one at the start of the evening rather than the end. Heavy sessions? only if I know I'm not driving the next day.

This isn't through fear of losing my licence though, If I'm ever involved in an accident I want to honestly think "yes I was as alert and capable as possible" just for my own peace of mind.

Edit to add, I've been told off for having one pint by a driver who was stood smoking a spliff....his argument was along the lines of "you can concentrate really hard when stoned to drive properly, you can't do that with alchohol" what a load of bull.

Edited by Marvib on Thursday 26th May 23:46

[Gary C]

So 4% accidents involve alcohol

So percentage of those actually driving at any time above the limit ? Must be very small, <0.001% ?

So statistically those driving with alcohol must be much higher chance of having an accident than those without.