Rural drink-driving
Discussion
biggbn said:
ingenieur said:
What the zero-tolerance authoritarians always fail to point out when they reel off their examples of someone who was terribly killed by a drunk driver is that the vast majority of accidents happen with sober drivers.
The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Why take the chance? The drunk driver will usually be blamed, yeah, but why take a drink and drive and tempt fate? What is so great about needing to have a few drinks that people take a chance with their lives; acceptable though that may be, and the lives of others; which is wholly unacceptable? Does alcohol have such a grip over people they cannot simply do without for one evening? The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Driving home in rural Shropshire a few years ago, a car pulled out of a pub car park in front of us forcing us to slow quickly. He made it about 100 yards before ending up in a ditch. Checked if he was OK, said he was fine and would get his wife to come and tow him out. He could barely stand up. I drove off and let the police know there had been an accident.
Gweeds said:
ingenieur said:
What the zero-tolerance authoritarians always fail to point out when they reel off their examples of someone who was terribly killed by a drunk driver is that the vast majority of accidents happen with sober drivers.
The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
More than happy to be called an authoritarian. The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Just don’t fking do it. The sack of st who killed my friend was over 3 times over the limit.
Gecko1978 said:
Driver101 said:
Pistom said:
Clearly alcohol must have some impairment but the risk of getting caught is virtually none, the liklihood of causing an accident virtually none so should anyone care?
In 2019 there was 8000 people killed or injured due to drink driving crashes. It dropped to 6500 in 2020. Pubs were closed and people covering less miles. The true figure of the amount of crashes, bumps and scrapes will be massively higher. Alcohol heavily affects people's reactions and ability. A few drinks and they feel more confident, but don't realise they are impaired. Head along to an A&E department on a weekend evening. The place is full of people having alcohol related accidents.
I don't agree that there is virtually no likelihood of causing an accident.
Given the pubs were shut most of the year - and driving itself restricted for many - the fact that by his figures the casualty rate dropped less than 20% is interesting.
I personally think there should be a zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs when driving. I don't care if it doesn't effect you, you still aren't in 100% control of you mind or body.
Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
ingenieur said:
Gweeds said:
ingenieur said:
What the zero-tolerance authoritarians always fail to point out when they reel off their examples of someone who was terribly killed by a drunk driver is that the vast majority of accidents happen with sober drivers.
The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
More than happy to be called an authoritarian. The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Just don’t fking do it. The sack of st who killed my friend was over 3 times over the limit.
Yes, more accidents involve sober drivers, but only because there are significantly more sober drivers on the road. But statistically they are less likely to have an accident than someone DD.
ingenieur said:
biggbn said:
ingenieur said:
What the zero-tolerance authoritarians always fail to point out when they reel off their examples of someone who was terribly killed by a drunk driver is that the vast majority of accidents happen with sober drivers.
The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Why take the chance? The drunk driver will usually be blamed, yeah, but why take a drink and drive and tempt fate? What is so great about needing to have a few drinks that people take a chance with their lives; acceptable though that may be, and the lives of others; which is wholly unacceptable? Does alcohol have such a grip over people they cannot simply do without for one evening? The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Zetec-S said:
ingenieur said:
Gweeds said:
ingenieur said:
What the zero-tolerance authoritarians always fail to point out when they reel off their examples of someone who was terribly killed by a drunk driver is that the vast majority of accidents happen with sober drivers.
The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
More than happy to be called an authoritarian. The fact that a person has had some alcohol before driving should not result in the automatic assumption that alcohol was the cause. But it always does.
Anyway, that aside... and to the question at the beginning. There was a story of the possibility of a 'pass' for drink driving in rural Ireland some years ago, I don't know if there has been any update since: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/22/iris...
Just don’t fking do it. The sack of st who killed my friend was over 3 times over the limit.
Yes, more accidents involve sober drivers, but only because there are significantly more sober drivers on the road. But statistically they are less likely to have an accident than someone DD.
You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
ingenieur said:
I don't think you've got the figures for that?
You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
Are you seriously arguing that consuming alcohol doesn't increase your chances of having an accident?You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
ingenieur said:
I don't think you've got the figures for that?
You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
If you're going down that path, then what figures do you have to support this statement?You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
ingenieur said:
The important bit was that accidents happen all the time, moreso with sober drivers.
deckster said:
ingenieur said:
I don't think you've got the figures for that?
You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
Are you seriously arguing that consuming alcohol doesn't increase your chances of having an accident?You'd have to know of all the people who were over the limit while driving for a given period and how many of them injured a pedestrian while over the limit. I doubt whether there are any stats for that.
It's double jeopardy in many places, alcohol and cannabis that the younger generation like to light up at the slightest chance.
It's rather more obvious because it stinks.
For the most part, most of the people I know are more responsible, mainly as they can't afford cars so have to use the bus.
It's rather more obvious because it stinks.
For the most part, most of the people I know are more responsible, mainly as they can't afford cars so have to use the bus.
ingenieur said:
No, I'm arguing that there isn't any evidence to prove it either way. I'm not making that claim but neither am I accepting the opposite without some evidence.
Pretty sure you're trolling. But just in case...there is a huge amount of research. It's absolutely beyond question. https://www.google.com/search?q=does+alcohol+affec...I live next to a pub car park in a fairly rural area. I see drunk and drug drivers departing there on an almost daily basis. Most of them are geezers in their 30s, so not teenagers or old codgers. I have lived there for 17 years and have never seen a police car waiting down the road to catch them. In the past I have occasionally reported the worst offenders to the Police, but of course they’ve long since disappeared by the time the complaint gets even looked at. Occasionally one or two of the offenders will have an accident and kill themselves and their passengers and there’ll be an outpouring of local grief. It’s just a never-ending rite of passage in our little town.
Ankh87 said:
I personally think there should be a zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs when driving. I don't care if it doesn't effect you, you still aren't in 100% control of you mind or body.
Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
If you're not 100% in control then the substance is affecting you. Issue with zero tolerance is that you could have some trifle or anything else that would cause issues, have a small amount of alcohol in your blood that doesn't change anything and get done. I think it's a sensible tolerance.Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
As for the only car in the car park, rural pub car parks are often packed.
I don't drink and drive at all. The Scottish limit is half the English one so you do need to be quite careful, and to me it's just not worth the risk for one pint (obviously 9 pints is also a bad idea).
.
Speed addicted said:
Ankh87 said:
I personally think there should be a zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs when driving. I don't care if it doesn't effect you, you still aren't in 100% control of you mind or body.
Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
If you're not 100% in control then the substance is affecting you. Issue with zero tolerance is that you could have some trifle or anything else that would cause issues, have a small amount of alcohol in your blood that doesn't change anything and get done. I think it's a sensible tolerance.Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
As for the only car in the car park, rural pub car parks are often packed.
I don't drink and drive at all. The Scottish limit is half the English one so you do need to be quite careful, and to me it's just not worth the risk for one pint (obviously 9 pints is also a bad idea).
.
biggbn said:
Speed addicted said:
Ankh87 said:
I personally think there should be a zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs when driving. I don't care if it doesn't effect you, you still aren't in 100% control of you mind or body.
Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
If you're not 100% in control then the substance is affecting you. Issue with zero tolerance is that you could have some trifle or anything else that would cause issues, have a small amount of alcohol in your blood that doesn't change anything and get done. I think it's a sensible tolerance.Issue is there's no way to enforce it unless there's a police officer at every pub or at the end of every street checking people which is impossible.
I don't think rural areas are any worse than urban. I think you notice it more because there's less people or you actually associate with people. When you're in a city you probably don't even know who's driving and who isn't. Whereas the local rural pub you'll know if they are driving or not because it'll be the only car in the car park.
As for the only car in the car park, rural pub car parks are often packed.
I don't drink and drive at all. The Scottish limit is half the English one so you do need to be quite careful, and to me it's just not worth the risk for one pint (obviously 9 pints is also a bad idea).
.
And it didn't stop someone I know getting banned for being 4x the limit recently...
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