Drink or drug driving
Discussion
Is it just me or is there definitely a lot more drink and or drug drivers being caught at this time of year ?
And if they are driving under (or over the limit) the influence of drink or drugs I suggest their car be taken away from them, as I don't think that happens at the moment, Perhaps it should be removed for a minimum of three weeks and they have to pay storage costs and a big fine to get it back although they will be losing their right to drive.
I detest drink or drug drivers ( in case anyone hasn't noticed)
and the fines etc are not nearly enough in my opinion.
And if they are driving under (or over the limit) the influence of drink or drugs I suggest their car be taken away from them, as I don't think that happens at the moment, Perhaps it should be removed for a minimum of three weeks and they have to pay storage costs and a big fine to get it back although they will be losing their right to drive.
I detest drink or drug drivers ( in case anyone hasn't noticed)
and the fines etc are not nearly enough in my opinion.
The big yin said:
Is it just me or is there definitely a lot more drink and or drug drivers being caught at this time of year ?
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Certainly in my county they used to blitz areas by surrounding towns with roadblocks in the late evening and inviting you to take part in a "road safety survey". The first question was, "Have you been drinking this evening?" I wouldn't be surprised if forces were allocating more resources to drink driving at this time year.>
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CanAm said:
The big yin said:
Is it just me or is there definitely a lot more drink and or drug drivers being caught at this time of year ?
>
>
Certainly in my county they used to blitz areas by surrounding towns with roadblocks in the late evening and inviting you to take part in a "road safety survey". The first question was, "Have you been drinking this evening?" I wouldn't be surprised if forces were allocating more resources to drink driving at this time year.>
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There have always been drug drivers - it's only now they are being caught.
Drink drivers? Judging by the annual local plod xmas campaign stats in our local rag it seems about the same as every year, and an awful lot of those are the mornign after.
I think just more people are getting caught - which is a suprise really as there are very few plod where I live, and I've never once in my adult life driven past a check point / pull-in check. I guess they have prangs or get dobbed in which gets them caught, or drive around at 2am which is frankly stupid if you even suspect you are close to the limit.
Drink drivers? Judging by the annual local plod xmas campaign stats in our local rag it seems about the same as every year, and an awful lot of those are the mornign after.
I think just more people are getting caught - which is a suprise really as there are very few plod where I live, and I've never once in my adult life driven past a check point / pull-in check. I guess they have prangs or get dobbed in which gets them caught, or drive around at 2am which is frankly stupid if you even suspect you are close to the limit.
The sentence for Drink Driving seems more than appropriate, 12 month ban, social stigma and horrendous insurance.
God forbid if you're caught more than once.
I doubt harsher sentencing would change much.
Drug driving is interesting, almost 0 limit, unless prescribed, in which case it's in line with the prescription, (although I am sure you would need to justify if there was an accident).
God forbid if you're caught more than once.
I doubt harsher sentencing would change much.
Drug driving is interesting, almost 0 limit, unless prescribed, in which case it's in line with the prescription, (although I am sure you would need to justify if there was an accident).
Not sure how much difference harsher sentencing would make.
I suspect it would reduce the number of people who have one or two and then drive, as it wouldn't be worth the risk. I doubt it would make much difference to the truly drunk, as the decision to drive is a matter of judgment, which is an attribute that's significantly reduced when one is pissed.
I suspect it would reduce the number of people who have one or two and then drive, as it wouldn't be worth the risk. I doubt it would make much difference to the truly drunk, as the decision to drive is a matter of judgment, which is an attribute that's significantly reduced when one is pissed.
If you watch the traffic police/Police Interceptors kind of TV programs, you could easily believe that every third driver after dark was either a drink driver or a drug driver.
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
QBee said:
If you watch the traffic police/Police Interceptors kind of TV programs, you could easily believe that every third driver after dark was either a drink driver or a drug driver.
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Every force, every year - Annual pre-Christmas Drink Drive enforcement campaigns (coordinated nationally).On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Probably not 1 in 3 drivers, but depending on the time of night and location, I'd anticipate 1 in 5 to 1in 10.
I recall more Drink Drivers are arrested in the summer than Christmas periods.
Hardly ever see any at all here. Last ones I saw doing something were operating speed guns, like that desperately needs extra resources that they tell us they're so short on.
Given someone can drive onto a roundabout and seemingly intentionally ram the side of your car and the po will fob you off with some puff about not being a police matter these days I'd be surprised if drink-drive stats weren't down...
Given someone can drive onto a roundabout and seemingly intentionally ram the side of your car and the po will fob you off with some puff about not being a police matter these days I'd be surprised if drink-drive stats weren't down...
I’ve said it before numerous times one here , mainly as I use the pubs in the locality , there’s literally hundreds around here , from the usual builder - teacher early doors crowd to upstanding members of community and a few ex international sports stars , five or six pints or a bottle of wine and jump in the car to drive ten to twenty mins walk away !
But what I’ve noticed recently is when I walk the dogs up the road , invariably to the pub , there’s a very strong smell of weed coming from a lot of cars driving on the road .
It’s definitely from the cars and clearly a strong strain , I’m no stranger to dope and it’s different types .
If the cops set up a stop + check on our Main Street they wouldn’t have enough staff to process them let alone cell space to keep them in .
Drugs are a part of a normal evening out these days from what I see .
But what I’ve noticed recently is when I walk the dogs up the road , invariably to the pub , there’s a very strong smell of weed coming from a lot of cars driving on the road .
It’s definitely from the cars and clearly a strong strain , I’m no stranger to dope and it’s different types .
If the cops set up a stop + check on our Main Street they wouldn’t have enough staff to process them let alone cell space to keep them in .
Drugs are a part of a normal evening out these days from what I see .
QBee said:
If you watch the traffic police/Police Interceptors kind of TV programs, you could easily believe that every third driver after dark was either a drink driver or a drug driver.
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Wow, that's a story to tell the grandkids & no mistake.On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Edited by OzzyR1 on Thursday 28th December 02:53
QBee said:
If you watch the traffic police/Police Interceptors kind of TV programs, you could easily believe that every third driver after dark was either a drink driver or a drug driver.
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Blimey, next year’s Netflix special. On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Teddy Lop said:
Hardly ever see any at all here. Last ones I saw doing something were operating speed guns, like that desperately needs extra resources that they tell us they're so short on.
Given someone can drive onto a roundabout and seemingly intentionally ram the side of your car and the po will fob you off with some puff about not being a police matter these days I'd be surprised if drink-drive stats weren't down...
Post like this really paint an unfair and irrational view of the police. It does my nut in to be quite honest. Given someone can drive onto a roundabout and seemingly intentionally ram the side of your car and the po will fob you off with some puff about not being a police matter these days I'd be surprised if drink-drive stats weren't down...
The police are massively short staffed and just because you happen to see some, at one point in time, in one location does not mean they're lying about it or something.
Also those officers with speedguns are obviously roads policing. They're focus is on the roads and they do operations days which are carefully planned around all sorts like:
Leave
Training
Public order operations
Arrest warrants
Court dates which some are involved in
Road death investigations which are obviously hugely important
So that one odd day when you see several they're likely all available and want to target a specific area.
Take Hampshire. With Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and Basingstoke. They may have 10-12 roads policing officers for that entire area. They may decide that one day in the future they will all go to Bath Road in Basingstoke due to months of issues with speeders and one fatal accident.
So you seeing 10 officers all there one day doesn't mean they're all off on a jolly and having a laugh. It means they've been abstracted from all normal operations for that one day and asked to go there. That may be 20+ miles from where they're usually based.
In addition, when I joined the police about 6 of us were attached to roads policing to help/shadow them on one of these operations. That was partially to boost numbers but also to help learn/see what they do. .
Also, to address your issue on the roundabout, I do understand what you're saying but think about how many things like this happen? How many times someone is deliberately:
Cut up
Road rage
Assaulted
Car damaged
Crashed into and killed
Mobile phone usage leading to accident
Stolen car
Driving without insurance
No L plates
All of these happen every single day. That's not even including "normal" crime like rape, stabbings, domestics, mental health.
So the police simply can not go off investigating some t
t that rammed you off the road. I can completely see why too - but I do see that in an ideal world we would all get full attention and help all the time. Edited by redrabbit29 on Thursday 28th December 03:58
Edited by redrabbit29 on Thursday 28th December 04:01
QBee said:
If you watch the traffic police/Police Interceptors kind of TV programs, you could easily believe that every third driver after dark was either a drink driver or a drug driver.
On the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
Clearly bOn the other hand, I have not seen an organised pre-Christmas drink drive campaign, stopping motorists at random late in the evening, since the late 1990s.
I got stopped, wife in the passenger seat, smartly dressed, as if we were on our way home from an evening out, in about 1995, at 11.30 pm on Christmas Eve. Fair do's, I thought, lets have some fun.
"Good evening sir"
"Good evening Officer"
She looks at the £30 grand's worth of almost brand new Lexus GS 300.
"Is this your car, sir?"
"No, Officer".
Look of stunned surprise on her face.
"Whose is it then?"
"Marshalls of Cambridge" (Lexus dealers).
"Why are you driving it then, Sir?" (my wife was starting to smirk by this time).
"Because they have been trying to find the fault with the gearbox on my own Lexus for the last three months, Officer, and have loaned me this one"
"Where have you been this evening, sir?"
"London, Officer, we have been to a concert"
"Have you had anything to drink this evening, sir?"
"No, Officer, I never drink and drive"
"Please blow into this sir".
Needless to say, I actually had not had a drink for 48 hours and blew zero.
"Drive carefully sir, Happy Christmas"
" Happy Christmas, Officer"
ks, a 90’s Lexus with a mechanical issue?? 
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