Enjoy your summer pint, but...

[Veloce2012]

Please don't repeat me.

What's the worst that can happen? A few drinks, short distance, reasonable driver.

A few years ago I thought I had it all, lovely wife, great car, good job. One stupid evening I had a few to drink at the local, was over the 'statutory limit' but nothing major (you know where I am) and decided to park my car up under a mile away (it had been parked on the road) to continue the night. On leaving the bar my friends outside goaded me into 'blasting off'. I did and sadly hit another car. 

My God, thankfully no one was hurt, through luck not design, but at that one point my world collapsed. Believe me, a good job, attractive wife, nice car etc mean NOTHING when the police arrive - at that point you're a
criminal, the guy your superiority looks down on on tv Road Wars is now you. 

What happens next? You get thrown in a police van (you protest at the time, but they don't care for your tailored suit), you get 'processed' alongside any other 'scum' at the time and put in a cell after being stripped of anything you could commit suicide with. The cell isn't a special 'it's only drink driving cell' but a full on, scum cell - a poured concrete, timeless cell. You're in there for what seems like an eternity. One thing I would say is that the Road Wars people are often people who've been through the 'system' before - but believe me, as a newbie it's a very unpleasant experience as you know there's no good outcome.

The next part is inevitable. A lengthy ban ensues after a court appearances, expensive solicitors do nothing apart from adding to the cost, but...

My parents didn't want to know me, my wife was ashamed of me and the company fired me. My ban turned into me losing everything. I'm now divorced and unemployed, my parents talk to me but it's not the same. The insurance company didn't pay out, so I'm financially ruined too.

The thing is I'm so lucky, I didn't kill or hurt anyone, I got away with 'just' losing everything. 

So to the ph'ers out there please think about things this summer. And if you want custard next to my court papers, divorce papers and insurance docs you're welcome.

I know this is an emotive subject on PH, I'm totally not looking for favours, but if one person drank one pint less before driving then surely it's worth posting?? I'll answer any sensible questions too to help the topic.

[Veloce2012]

jjones said:

can i ask what car did you smash up and what had you drank?

Nothing spectacular - a new(ish) MX-5. The drinking was 3 pints in the course of just under a few hours, I had stupidly forgotten I'd had a pint over lunch, that was 4.5hrs prior to accident but didn't help.

[Veloce2012]

MX7 said:

Veloce2012 said:

My parents didn't want to know me

Really?

Although it reads a bit like a government backed drink awareness campaign, good luck with sorting you stuff out.

They were furious, and they're still highly annoyed, but will always be my parents.

The wife didn't leave me because of it directly, but all the stress and money issues that ensued all took their toll.

[Veloce2012]

CampDavid said:

I'm taking a punt that this is part of a drink driving campagne

Not buying

Certainly not. I was just thinking the other day about how everyone worries about how long the ban woul be (I did) without realising how much else can happen too.

[Veloce2012]

RemyMartin said:

...have to say, you won't get any sympathy from me.

As someone else put it boo fking hoo.

I wasn't asking for anyone, just hoping someone else would think twice. Must be great to have a fast track to Sainthood.

[Veloce2012]

RemyMartin said:

Veloce2012 said:

I wasn't asking for anyone, just hoping someone else would think twice. Must be great to have a fast track to Sainthood.

I'm not a saint and don't proport to be one either, I wish you well in getting your life on track, just stating I've seen a million people like you, all the same.

Trouble is for everyone of you who gets away with it there are plenty of people who don't and wreck lives and then someone has to clear that mess up....

My response may have been a bit OTT. Just so you know, after you clear the mess up even non injured people's lives are affected rather than "gets away with it". The police in my case were firm but fair, def no complaints as they obviously wanted to call me a t**t but refrained.

[Veloce2012]

bqf said:

This is his first post? He's having a laugh, surely. Doesnt ring true for me - especially the bit about the parents.

I think this is horsepoo. I call custard.

I've been on PH for years, this isn't the sort of thing posted under your normal user name but really did want to post as I wasn't alone in those who think they'll be fine. As for the parents, if you have a good background, good job and manage to loose it all because of an act of stupidity I doubt I'm alone on that one. I'm happy to arrange the custard.

[Veloce2012]

CampDavid said:

nistock said:

Call me suspicious but there is something in your story which does not ring true. You say your insurance company refused to pay out. Why? If you were comprehensively insured they are obliged to pay out, drink or not. Even if you were third party only the insurance company would have to pay for damage to the other car. And why would anyone in their right mind have only third party cover on a MX5?

Check your policy, Drink driving is an exclusion on all of them pretty much now.

They'll pay out third party then nail you for the bill

I didn't even know at the time. Was the worst letter you could ever imagine. I'll try and fish it out as it made references to the European code that allows them to exclude it.