Drink driving on the up amongst youngsters
Discussion
Not cheery reading
Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just
you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?
Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just
you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
CommanderJameson said:
Not cheery reading
Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?
Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
Plenty of anti-drink drive adverts are run. Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just
you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
vonhosen said:
CommanderJameson said:
Not cheery reading
Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?
Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
Plenty of anti-drink drive adverts are run. Dahn t'pub, amongst my age group (30something), drink driving is regarded as one of the more odious and repellent things to do. There's a couple of older chaps (50s) who seem to think that it's doable over short distances, but younger than that, it's a big no-no.
What do we have to do to get the current crop of under-25s to realise that DD doesn't just
you and your victim up on the night, but will give you insurance nightmares and a criminal record even if you don't kill someone?Perhaps spending some of that speed camera money on some advertising would be a good start.
You're a BiB. Do you have an opinion on (a) why young drivers are more willing to drink/drive now than those of my generation, and (b) is it really the problem that the news story I linked to would suggest?
It is in my view the feeling that with so few police officers on the beat and in Traffic cars the chance of being caught is very low indeed. According to the reort 1 in 5 deaths are due to drink and yet apart from xmas the profile of drink driving as an offence is relativly low. Of course if they can develpo an camera which smells drink then problem solved, but until that time the policy of reducing police officers and replacing with cameras, has been responsible for this rise. All in my opinion of course
I am fairly sure that there is a view amongst those youngsters with a prediliction for drinking and driving that you are more likely than ever to get away with it. Cameras do not catch DDers.
This, of course, may not actually be true. They may be as likely as ever to be caught. But the stats say they believe they'll get away with it.
Terrifying. There again - I doubt many of us can claim to have had a reckless-action-free youth. Its just that DD is one of the things we all thought was changing for the better. Maybe it just isn't.
This, of course, may not actually be true. They may be as likely as ever to be caught. But the stats say they believe they'll get away with it.
Terrifying. There again - I doubt many of us can claim to have had a reckless-action-free youth. Its just that DD is one of the things we all thought was changing for the better. Maybe it just isn't.
I agree with the above. I think the belief amongst the 17-24 generation (my generation, just!) is that you've got a good chance of getting away with DD now. There's noticeably fewer traffic police around now.
There's no excuse for DD even if you live in the sticks. In London, where they say a quarter of people caught are 17-24 there's absolutely no excuse, there's taxis, buses, even scooterman if you NEED to get your car somewhere different. Sure it'll cost, but that's a decision you make when you have a drink.
It would be interesting to see the stats on when people were caught. I would suspect a large number are caught 'the morning after'. Our culture of going out drinking until 2 /3 am isn't condusive of being safe to drive at 7 or 8.
There's no excuse for DD even if you live in the sticks. In London, where they say a quarter of people caught are 17-24 there's absolutely no excuse, there's taxis, buses, even scooterman if you NEED to get your car somewhere different. Sure it'll cost, but that's a decision you make when you have a drink.
It would be interesting to see the stats on when people were caught. I would suspect a large number are caught 'the morning after'. Our culture of going out drinking until 2 /3 am isn't condusive of being safe to drive at 7 or 8.
to be honest i'm amazed they actually caught anyone. There are virtually no traffic police anymore so i would say due to the lack of deterant these sorts of crimes will be on the increase. bring back a decent amount of traffic police and increase their presence on the roads and you will see a better solution to what the government has in mind.
Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
Oh great, another reason to penalise people under 25. I look forward to the inevitable police attention on my demographic. I know people who have drunk driven of varying ages. I dont think their age is so important as their attitude. Probably another problem that would be well adressed by police on roads and making an assesment of peoples irratic driving, rather than calling all under 25's irresponsible.
The Tuscan Rat said:
Batfink said:
to be honest i'm amazed they actually caught anyone. There are virtually no traffic police anymore so i would say due to the lack of deterant these sorts of crimes will be on the increase. bring back a decent amount of traffic police and increase their presence on the roads and you will see a better solution to what the government has in mind.
Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
From a serving Traffic officer, I could'nt agree more about more Traffic officers on the roads. Also can we have some better powers to stop drink drivers like the rest of the world. Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
It is a joke. I honestly, honestly, can't actually remember the last time i saw a traffic car on the motorway / main road. It may be that i've passed several unmarked cars (likely), but the marked cars are the ones that act as a deterrent, rather than revenue collectors.
Bring back the human face of policing. No doubt the Government will say, 'Ooooh but look more people have been caught, that's why there's more 17-24 year olds', suitably evading giving a straight answer as per usual.
The Tuscan Rat said:
From a serving Traffic officer, I could'nt agree more about more Traffic officers on the roads. Also can we have some better powers to stop drink drivers like the rest of the world.
Exactly what powers to the police have to stop drink drivers? If you see a car being driven poorly isn't that enough in itself to give suitable reason to stop them on suspicion of DD? Or are you referring to something else?johnnywb said:
The Tuscan Rat said:
Batfink said:
to be honest i'm amazed they actually caught anyone. There are virtually no traffic police anymore so i would say due to the lack of deterant these sorts of crimes will be on the increase. bring back a decent amount of traffic police and increase their presence on the roads and you will see a better solution to what the government has in mind.
Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
From a serving Traffic officer, I could'nt agree more about more Traffic officers on the roads. Also can we have some better powers to stop drink drivers like the rest of the world. Government response is that they are going to target these young drivers in a campaign. So a few adverts on TV and radio will do sod all. I like their latest one about curb crawling. I can't see that being so major as to justify a multi million pound radio campaign, let alone make a blind bit of difference.
It is a joke. I honestly, honestly, can't actually remember the last time i saw a traffic car on the motorway / main road. It may be that i've passed several unmarked cars (likely), but the marked cars are the ones that act as a deterrent, rather than revenue collectors.
Bring back the human face of policing. No doubt the Government will say, 'Ooooh but look more people have been caught, that's why there's more 17-24 year olds', suitably evading giving a straight answer as per usual.
Thing is, amongst my age group (now mid-30s) it wasn't the fear of getting caught that stopped us; it was peer pressure. The anti-drink driving campaign suceeded in making it socially unacceptable. I think that really deserves to be recognised as being one hell of an achievement as social responsibility is the absolute antithesis of most young people's anti-establishment instinct. It may well be worth trying to produce a similar campaign to the one targetted at us, but I imagine there is a fair amount of luck as to how the young react to the message ... i.e. if you're lucky it becomes fashionable to be anti-DD, but it does require some luck.
The key thing that I think made the last campaign work was that it focussed on what other young people thought of drink drivers; the message was, if you're a drink driver all your mates will think you're a complete tt and will sneer at you. They projected the drink driver as being as cool as pair of jeans with neat creases ironed into the front of them. Yes, they mentioned the danger and the death, but the focus was on looking like a cmplete tt. As an Australian campaign put it, "If you drink and drive, you're a bloody idiot". It's brilliantly simple and hits people sqaurely in their need to be accepted by their peers.
The key thing that I think made the last campaign work was that it focussed on what other young people thought of drink drivers; the message was, if you're a drink driver all your mates will think you're a complete t
t and will sneer at you. They projected the drink driver as being as cool as pair of jeans with neat creases ironed into the front of them. Yes, they mentioned the danger and the death, but the focus was on looking like a cmplete tt. As an Australian campaign put it, "If you drink and drive, you're a bloody idiot". It's brilliantly simple and hits people sqaurely in their need to be accepted by their peers.I too would be interested in seeing how much is morning-after stuff.
I know plenty of people my sort of age who wouldn't dream of taking the car home from the pub, but quite often speak of things like, "We were absolutely mashed last night, started drinking at eight and didn't leave the place 'til 2am" - that's a hell of a lot of alcohol still in the bloodstream to drive to work on.
I know plenty of people my sort of age who wouldn't dream of taking the car home from the pub, but quite often speak of things like, "We were absolutely mashed last night, started drinking at eight and didn't leave the place 'til 2am" - that's a hell of a lot of alcohol still in the bloodstream to drive to work on.
Very few of my colleagues (20% at best) are actually able to pull cars over. Only those who have taken a 4 week driving course and got their 'blues' can use the lights to stop people. It means that whilst I drive around on lates and nights, I might see poor driving but there's nothing I can do other than hope a colleague is in the area who is able to stop it.
My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
warren182 said:
Does anyone know how accurate the disposable breathalyzer's available at Halfords are? Used them a few times, but not 100% sure if they're accurate.
I certainly wouldn't rely on them. If you are going to drive, don't drink. Simple as that. As for the morning after, make sure you stop drinking early/drink in moderation so there can be absolutely no doubt you're clear the next day.JulianHJ said:
Very few of my colleagues (20% at best) are actually able to pull cars over. Only those who have taken a 4 week driving course and got their 'blues' can use the lights to stop people. It means that whilst I drive around on lates and nights, I might see poor driving but there's nothing I can do other than hope a colleague is in the area who is able to stop it.
My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
Years ago (in my youth) there seemed to be two types of polics car - the Ford Escort type you'd see around town and (before that Austin 1100's My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
)then the Granada 'jam butty' type you'd see on the motorways.Are all police cars relatively the same now? They all seem to be Volvo estates to me with chequerboard designs - can't say I take much notice though !
Also, if one of the cops who hasn't done the course is driving and follows some guy are you saying he 'CAN'T' get the guy to stop? Surely if he just flashed his headlights and the guy didn't stop, he'd be guilty of failing to stop for a police car ... ?
Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 29th May 10:14
MikeyT said:
JulianHJ said:
Very few of my colleagues (20% at best) are actually able to pull cars over. Only those who have taken a 4 week driving course and got their 'blues' can use the lights to stop people. It means that whilst I drive around on lates and nights, I might see poor driving but there's nothing I can do other than hope a colleague is in the area who is able to stop it.
My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
Years ago (in my youth) there seemed to be two types of polics car - the Ford Escort type you'd see around town and (before that Austin 1100's My last shift was a classic example. A colleague was driving behind a car at 2am with no lights on and swerving around. He was only a basic driver so could do nothing but call out on the radio. The drunk then clipped a parked car and accelerated away from my colleague. Thanks to good commentary I was in the right area when my colleague lost sight and I found the offending vehicle as it pulled in to park up and hide. The driver was nicked for Section 4 (DIC), TWOC, No insurance, no licence, failing to stop at an accident and possession of cannabis.
In my force there is currently a 2 year waiting list for driving courses due to lack of funding.
)then the Granada 'jam butty' type you'd see on the motorways.Are all police cars relatively the same now? They all seem to be Volvo estates to me with chequerboard designs - can't say I take much notice though !
Also, if one of the cops who hasn't done the course is driving and follows some guy are you saying he 'CAN'T' get the guy to stop? Surely if he just flashed his headlights and the guy didn't stop, he'd be guilty of failing to stop for a police car ... ?
Edited by MikeyT on Tuesday 29th May 10:14
We're not permitted to use the emergency lights, so a flash of the headlights sometimes works. Not sure it's actually permitted though.
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