Drink driving

Lennoxschips

I couldn't believe last night that elected officials on the Late Late Show were actually making the case that having a few pints and driving home was okay. RTE shouldn't give these people airtime, it's absolutely disgusting.

As far as I'm concerned it's not even a debate.

Terrontress

I think it is fine, if it is just one or two.

There has been an overreaction from all quarters in terms of drinking and driving.

Someone who is having 2 pints of beer is being tarred with the same brush as someone who drinks 12 pints and runs into a lamppost.

mike65

"Ah sure two will do" :rolleyes:

Mike.

Chakar

Lennoxschips wrote:

I couldn't believe last night that elected officials on the Late Late Show were actually making the case that having a few pints and driving home was okay. RTE shouldn't give these people airtime, it's absolutely disgusting.

As far as I'm concerned it's not even a debate.

Yeah its rather inane.

bonkey

Terrontress wrote:

I think it is fine, if it is just one or two.

On what basis? You don't feel drunk or disimpaired after one or two? You've never had an accident while driving after one or two?

There has been an overreaction from all quarters in terms of drinking and driving.

The only quarter there's an overreaction from are those who believe its acceptable to drive a ton of metal at high speed whilst impaired through the consumption of alcohol.

The excuse that "but tiredness (or whatever) can impair you just as much and that's not illegal", before someone uses it, is a complaint that our rules are not strict enough...not that they should be more lax.

Someone who is having 2 pints of beer is being tarred with the same brush as someone who drinks 12 pints and runs into a lamppost.

Cherry-picking situations to suit your argument is simple. Its not terribly meaningful, but its simple and looks good.

So tell me....how about these two other guys :

Have 12 pints of beer, drive home safely
Have 2 pints of beer, park it into a mother and child, killing them

How should they be treated? Like you think the 2-pinter who got home safely, or the 12-pinter who parked it into a lamppost?

Not so easy now, is it?

bonkey

Lennoxschips wrote:

RTE shouldn't give these people airtime, it's absolutely disgusting.

I disagree. RTE should make sure that the populace are aware of what irresponsible idiots they've elected.

The only reason its problematic is that there's enough of the population who'll agree that drunk-driving is fine as long as its only at the level they engage in themselves.

Its all fun and games until someone loses a family member.

simu

Lennoxschips wrote:

I couldn't believe last night that elected officials on the Late Late Show were actually making the case that having a few pints and driving home was okay. RTE shouldn't give these people airtime, it's absolutely disgusting.

As far as I'm concerned it's not even a debate.

Well, unfortunately, expressing those opinions will get Michael Healy Rae votes. Some people just don't seem to understand that it's possible to have a night out without drink and seem to think the dangers of drink driving only apply to people outside their own communities.

He's not doing much for Kerry's image...

Wishbone Ash

Lennoxschips wrote:

elected officials on the Late Late Show were actually making the case that having a few pints and driving home

Apologies for being pedantic but there was only one elected official (County Councillor) on it - Michael Healy Rae.

Elected officials will generally reflect the opinions/views of their electoral support base (whether they agree or not with them) especially if they wish to be re-elected.

Firetrap

Don't forget that lots of our TDs are publicans as well or have close connections with them. Remember how quickly Michael McDowell's idea for café bars was shot down?

Michael Healy Rae is basically a Mini-Me clone of Jackie Healy Rae. He's playing to a certain demographic, though I do wonder how many of his constituents are really rural boggers living on the tops of hills 10 miles from the local pub.

sovtek

allie_e17 wrote:

Don't forget that lots of our TDs are publicans as well or have close connections with them. Remember how quickly Michael McDowell's idea for café bars was shot down?

Michael Healy Rae is basically a Mini-Me clone of Jackie Healy Rae. He's playing to a certain demographic, though I do wonder how many of his constituents are really rural boggers living on the tops of hills 10 miles from the local pub.

I wonder what effect on drink driving stats better public transport for the bogsters.

landser

sovtek wrote:

I wonder what effect on drink driving stats better public transport for the bogsters.

No idea what this is meant to mean, but obviously the poster has an enlightened attitude to people from outside of Dublin:rolleyes:

Anyway, as someone whose family had a rural pub and who had to socialise in rural areas, I feel that one or two pints is no harm. However, I'm perfectly aware that alcohol effects people differently, and other factors have to be looked at i.e. tiredness, whether the person has eaten, the speed with which the pints are drunk (i.e. two in 10 minutes or 20 minutes etc.) These factors cannot be legislated for and therefore the almost total ban on alcohol in the bloodstream is the only answer.

Some people may not be impaired after two pints, but some will, and it is for those people that you must legislate, and not the other way around. It may be that the enforcement of the law by the Gardaí has had an effect on rural social life, and while this may be lamentable, it is inevitable.

Either way, the law is not going to be changed to allow for any form of drinking and driving in rural areas. A couple of gobsh*te Councillors/TD's, of no consequence and without any power, have appealled to the base element of their constituents in order to get some airtime.