Enjoy your summer pint, but...

Enjoy your summer pint, but...

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Discussion

Veloce2012

Original Poster:

8 posts

143 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
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.

CraigVmax

12,248 posts

281 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
good post. I'm really sorry about the way its changed your life, it sounds like you know you did a daft thing and paid for it dearly.

As you said, at least nobody was hurt.

I hope you can in time rebuild things from here.

best of luck.

jjones

4,422 posts

192 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
can i ask what car did you smash up and what had you drank?


Snowboy

8,028 posts

150 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Another evocative first post.

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Codswallop

5,250 posts

193 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Very sorry to read all that, but hopefully you can move on upwards and onwards again. Main thing is no one was killed.

I've never been stupid enough to even contemplate purposefully impairing myself before operating heavy machinery, but hopefully your post may get through to the "one more pint is okay" brigade.

Veloce2012

Original Poster:

8 posts

143 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
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.

Ali2202

3,815 posts

203 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Ouch!

I'm sorry for your trouble and admire your honesty over the situation Fella.

Why did your Parents turn on you so strongly? It seems harsh to be so unforgiving.

falkster

4,258 posts

202 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
You're going to get two responses. You got what you deserved or tough break.

I did exactly the same when I was 22! Other than being married your scenario could have been mine. I was hard working so the 32k it cost me was paid by the shares I'd collected to buy my first house which at the time was almost my first house value.
I was so ashamed and deserved my punishment.
Never drink and drive - I know it's rationalising the situation but I put my keys behind the bar and parked my car up safe, I don't even remember getting my keys back or driving. I hasn't, up to then or after, even had one pint and driven but was so drunk I dont know how the decision was made, peer group pressure or just a stupid decision.

Jamesp24

309 posts

169 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
sorry to hear but im sure you will be able to get back to where you were,i have a mate who got banned for 18months he certainly learnt his lesson.

More than 1 pint and my car stays put for the night.

NiceCupOfTea

25,277 posts

250 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Good post.

MX7

7,902 posts

173 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
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.

frosted

3,549 posts

176 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Tbh, if you lost everything from drink driving then you never had all the stuff you mentioned.


Cyder

7,043 posts

219 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
An interesting post and quite thought provoking how a few moments of madness can bugger everything up, thanks for sharing it.

No 'holier than thou' post from me, in my younger days it wasn't unusual to have one more than I should have and still trundle home. There but for the grace of God etc.

A mate got tugged one night and lost his licence/job and that gave me and a few others the slap we needed to sort ourselves out.

bob1179

14,107 posts

208 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
If people take heed of your words it can only be a good thing.

fatboy69

9,369 posts

186 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Man enough to admit to your mistake which is a rarity in this day & age.

Chris71

21,535 posts

241 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Sage advice.

Don't forget the morning after a big session too. For that matter the afternoon afterwards....

ETA It does read a bit like a morality tale, but I don't see it matters that much if it was. I'd be buggered if I couldn't drive (my job would be gone before you even consider the fun and the freedom that comes with driving) so I totally agree with the sentiment.

Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 26th April 13:59

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
MX7 said:
Although it reads a bit like a government backed drink awareness campaign, good luck with sorting you stuff out.
Indeed. Sounds like Bookface tripe if you ask me. Anyway, drink driver gets done. Boo-fking-hoo.

chrisxr2

1,127 posts

193 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Erm, different spin slightly. I got done for drink driving whilst asleep in the car. (Posted on the site at length before) losing my licence made me find a job where driving is not required. Been in Offshore Oil and Gas industry 4 years now and consider myself very lucky to be where i am on more money and with more time off than i ever had in the forces or as a sales rep. I would never ever want to having to rely on public transport for a year and a half again though. Basically OP it doesnt have to be the end of the world. Thankfully my wife and family where very very supportive.

frosted

3,549 posts

176 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
doogz said:
He must have imagined his house and his car then.
No, he obviously borrowed too much to buy a house, married the wrong woman and i can think of a million jobs that dont need a driving licence. The parents "thing" I don't understand , thought it was mainly unconditioned love. Anyway OP, I think your blaming the DD for everything bad that brought you "here" even though it was probably unrelated . Pick yourself up and learn from your mistakes

Leptons

5,108 posts

175 months

Thursday 26th April 2012
quotequote all
Do you work for brake?

If your wife left you for DD then SWT!