I heard a drink driver say... it won't matter...
Discussion
Agreed - there is far too much of the "It's OK, I'll drive slowly on the way home" attitude going around.
I personally feel very strongly about drink driving - will not touch a drop for the whole day if I'm going to be driving - it's the only way to be sure. There was a situation a while ago (to cut a long story short) in which a bloke I know drove while drunk, threw his car off the road - from his lane over to the right, literally one minute before some very good friends of mine came down the same road going the other way. Could quite easily have ended with my friends seriously injured.
DD is, in my opinion, the worst of all motoring offences, the attitude of those who do it on a regular basis sickens me.
I personally feel very strongly about drink driving - will not touch a drop for the whole day if I'm going to be driving - it's the only way to be sure. There was a situation a while ago (to cut a long story short) in which a bloke I know drove while drunk, threw his car off the road - from his lane over to the right, literally one minute before some very good friends of mine came down the same road going the other way. Could quite easily have ended with my friends seriously injured.
DD is, in my opinion, the worst of all motoring offences, the attitude of those who do it on a regular basis sickens me.
About seven years ago, I was in a four car crash in Swindon caused by a DD ploughing into a stationary queue of cars. As we all climbed out our cars, the idiot wandered up and said "Oh we'll just exchange details and be on our way then".
I did wonder how he was going to get anywhere fast with the engine of his vectra sitting in the passenger's footwell!
Funniest bit was when I wandered into the McDonalds drive-thru and asked if there was a phone I could use. The pleb behind the counter said there was a phone, but it wasn't for the public to use. I point to the wreckage outside and asked (nicely) if he could make an exception just this once, to which he repeated the same answer. The I sussed it: I asked if he could use the phone, he said yes, so I asked if he wouldn't mind just making a quick call to get the police and an ambulance. Flipping burgers? it's too good for them!!
I did wonder how he was going to get anywhere fast with the engine of his vectra sitting in the passenger's footwell!
Funniest bit was when I wandered into the McDonalds drive-thru and asked if there was a phone I could use. The pleb behind the counter said there was a phone, but it wasn't for the public to use. I point to the wreckage outside and asked (nicely) if he could make an exception just this once, to which he repeated the same answer. The I sussed it: I asked if he could use the phone, he said yes, so I asked if he wouldn't mind just making a quick call to get the police and an ambulance. Flipping burgers? it's too good for them!!
Sadly I agree with Hertsbiker. Sure - if a driver is pee'd then he'll crash or get pulled as he wobbles down the road.
More moderate DD (say two and half/three pints instead of of one and a half) then I'd say its a gambling game same as speeding. Chances are you'll get away with it for a long, long time before getting caught. Of course, the consequences to one's license are worse than speeding...
If you think back to twenty years ago DD was common. Generally it happened out in the country because for country folk there was no other way of getting to and from the country pub.
By now the way we have demonised DD has had its effect - some of those pubs now have to make their money selling food...a good thing since they haven't gone bust...
BTW: In no way do I condone DD - its avoidable and wrong. But I can see how it happens - and I can also see that it may well become more common again..."way out there".
More moderate DD (say two and half/three pints instead of of one and a half) then I'd say its a gambling game same as speeding. Chances are you'll get away with it for a long, long time before getting caught. Of course, the consequences to one's license are worse than speeding...
If you think back to twenty years ago DD was common. Generally it happened out in the country because for country folk there was no other way of getting to and from the country pub.
By now the way we have demonised DD has had its effect - some of those pubs now have to make their money selling food...a good thing since they haven't gone bust...
BTW: In no way do I condone DD - its avoidable and wrong. But I can see how it happens - and I can also see that it may well become more common again..."way out there".
cazzo said:
I have to disagree with you there.......
Yes but what's the chance of a BiB following them in the first place, given that traffic Policing, in many areas, is being replaced by cameras and the few Trafplods that are left are put on 'laser' duty?
That was the sort of comment I was going to make. The chances of seeing a traffic car in some areas is so remote that unless its Christmas drivers think there chances of getting caught are very remote.
chrisgr31 said:
tonyrec said:
I have to disagree with you there.......
too true, its a LONG time since I saw traffic police, especially long time since I saw them stop someone with dodgy lights, mobile chatting or anything else, they just ignored them.
tis a shame theres not more on the road.
Yes but what's the chance of a BiB following them in the first place, given that traffic Policing, in many areas, is being replaced by cameras and the few Trafplods that are left are put on 'laser' duty?
That was the sort of comment I was going to make. The chances of seeing a traffic car in some areas is so remote that unless its Christmas drivers think there chances of getting caught are very remote.
..look, standards are DROPPING at the same rate speeds are dropping. The accident rate will remain static, or increase. Hell, in my motorcycle career I never drank a pint and rode, yet now I won't think twice about one pint, BECAUSE there IS NO WAY I can get done for it - even if it isn't advisable. Likewise I can do outrageous overtakes, and provided no cameras see me speeding, I can be as dangerous as I like. Is this right? no way is it. It's all going badly wrong, and matey in the pub just took the biscuit. 4 pints FFS, now that is taking the p***. And the road rage inceidents, we're on a date with destruction and the only ones who can save us are more TrafPol !
C
C
hertsbiker said:
..look, standards are DROPPING at the same rate speeds are dropping. The accident rate will remain static, or increase. Hell, in my motorcycle career I never drank a pint and rode, yet now I won't think twice about one pint, BECAUSE there IS NO WAY I can get done for it - even if it isn't advisable. Likewise I can do outrageous overtakes, and provided no cameras see me speeding, I can be as dangerous as I like. Is this right? no way is it. It's all going badly wrong, and matey in the pub just took the biscuit. 4 pints FFS, now that is taking the p***. And the road rage inceidents, we're on a date with destruction and the only ones who can save us are more TrafPol !
C
Did you consider informing local plod?
hertsbiker said:
..look, standards are DROPPING at the same rate speeds are dropping. The accident rate will remain static, or increase. Hell, in my motorcycle career I never drank a pint and rode, yet now I won't think twice about one pint, BECAUSE there IS NO WAY I can get done for it - even if it isn't advisable. Likewise I can do outrageous overtakes, and provided no cameras see me speeding, I can be as dangerous as I like. Is this right? no way is it. It's all going badly wrong, and matey in the pub just took the biscuit. 4 pints FFS, now that is taking the p***. And the road rage inceidents, we're on a date with destruction and the only ones who can save us are more TrafPol !
C
bloody hell how peeps forget so quick.
as for bikers i can remember the days why it was normaly to ride home from pub after 12 pints.
and noone bated an eyelide before the meadia campain
not unlike the current speed kills.
>> Edited by outlaw on Tuesday 2nd September 12:23
I live next door to a pub. I see one regular arrive on the dot at 5 every afternoon. He leaves at about 7:30 to drive 7 miles home his theory being that plod arnt really looking for drinkers at that time of day. This gut usually drinks 4 -5 pints and a bottle of red wine every day (wonder what his liver is like!!)
I know I should report him as this has been going on for years but I just cant bring myself to do it.
I know I should report him as this has been going on for years but I just cant bring myself to do it.
bad company said:
I live next door to a pub. I see one regular arrive on the dot at 5 every afternoon. He leaves at about 7:30 to drive 7 miles home his theory being that plod arnt really looking for drinkers at that time of day. This gut usually drinks 4 -5 pints and a bottle of red wine every day (wonder what his liver is like!!)
I know I should report him as this has been going on for years but I just cant bring myself to do it.
point is how many years he been at and how many acsidents has he had doing it ?
if the answer is none makes you think dont it?
so can I... till the one night i didn't, I used to go out and get a taxi almost all the way home.. pick up my car from the station, steer it home perfectly the last one mile, then i rolled it through a hedge, thank god nobody else was involved, I could have hit anyone but fortunatly didn't, I promise if i had not been drinking I would never have crashed.... also if the sentence was more severe I would never have considered driving, I thought i could get away with it as you never see police in that road late at night, if you went to jail.. I would never ever have considered it!... now if I do it again I will get a custodial sentence... and quite rightly so, Two things are obvious... sentencing is too weak the threat would lower the incidence... and there never seem to be any police around any more... so people get tempted.... I'm not proud.. and never again!
too be honised i hardly drink thease day and dont in the car.
having said that i drove for years bike cars
iv even drove a 7 and half toner pissed.
including many a run with a few blue lights behind me.
all with out anymisshap what so ever.
Im not aguring the writes or wroungs of it.
im just pointing out acohol afects many peeps diferent.
and drink driving aint as clear cut as you would think.
iv known plenty of pissheads then can drive beter that a lot of numptis that are sober.
personal im take the view that the law shoyld be ok drive but if you crash then let the shit hit the fan
then not before.
same with speeding
im sick of laws about what you may do.
having said that i drove for years bike cars
iv even drove a 7 and half toner pissed.
including many a run with a few blue lights behind me.
all with out anymisshap what so ever.
Im not aguring the writes or wroungs of it.
im just pointing out acohol afects many peeps diferent.
and drink driving aint as clear cut as you would think.
iv known plenty of pissheads then can drive beter that a lot of numptis that are sober.
personal im take the view that the law shoyld be ok drive but if you crash then let the shit hit the fan
then not before.
same with speeding
im sick of laws about what you may do.
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