Drink Driving

murpho999 · 29-07-2016 10:37PM #1

This week has been an awful week on Irish roads with 12 people killed. Far more than people killed by terrorists in France that people seem more worried about.

I would guess that alcohol may be a factor in some of the accidents and wonder what people's attitudes are to this?

I am of the age to remember how many people drove whilst totally twisted in the 1970s and how through the 80s and 90s it became more anti-social and declined.

However, I have heard to people in their twenties in work talking recently how they often drive with drink on them and I was shocked.

It seems to be creeping back and I think lack of enforcement is an issue. Used to live in Holland and was stopped there regularly for regular random breath tests but 11 years back in Ireland I have never seen one.

What do people on Boards think?

Do you ever drink and drive?

risteard7 · 29-07-2016 10:39PM

murpho999 wrote: »

This week has been an awful week on Irish roads with 12 people killed. Far more than people killed by terrorists in France that people seem more worried about.

I would guess that alcohol may be a factor in some of the accidents and wonder what people's attitudes are to this?

I am of the age to remember how many people drove whilst totally twisted in the 1970s and how through the 80s and 90s it became more anti-social and declined.

However, I have heard to people in their twenties in work talking recently how they often drive with drink on them and I was shocked.

It seems to be creeping back and I think lack of enforcement is an issue. Used to live in Holland and was stopped there regulary for regular random breath tests but 11 years back in Ireland I have never seen one.

What do people on Boards think.

Do you ever drink and drive?

Drink driving is an excuse used all the time. How many of the 12 poor people had alcohol in their system??

Canis Lupus · 29-07-2016 10:40PM

You won't find many muslim drunk drivers on the roads hey.

Also drink driving is bad but people do it. Whatcha gonna do.

murpho999 · 29-07-2016 10:41PM

risteard7 wrote: »

Drink driving is an excuse used all the time. How many of the 12 poor people had alcohol in their system??

As I said, I don't know but there is a high chance it was a factor especialy as many happened late at night/early morning.

Why do you think it's just an excuse.

Also,just wondering, why would you quote my entire post to respond to it?

29-07-2016 10:43PM

Like many of my age and older, did it. There was a culture of it in rural Ireland 20 years ago. With taxis everywhere now, with increasing penalties, with the social opprobrium, it's just foolish.

risteard7 · 29-07-2016 10:44PM

murpho999 wrote: »

As I said, I don't know but there is a high chance it was a factor especialy as many happened late at night/early morning.

Why do you think it's just an excuse.

I think mobile phone use is a much bigger problem than drink driving.

Captain Chaos · 29-07-2016 10:45PM

murpho999 wrote: »

As I said, I don't know but there is a high chance it was a factor especialy as many happened late at night/early morning.

Why do you think it's just an excuse.

All the ones in Donegal were in the early hours and aged late teens to early twentys, more than likely drink related plus wreckless driving. Add to that the very low garda presence in the county in general so there is a lack of deterence .

HardenendMan · 29-07-2016 10:45PM

Nope, never drink drive. Well maybe once or twice when moving my car a few metres within my drive to make way for another car.

To be very honest, I don't drink drive because of the penalty, rather than because I think it is so dangerous. Of course I don't think I could drive just as well after a skinful, or even say 4 or 5 pints over few hours. But I don't feel any affect after say two pints. My reaction after two pints is still miles better than a lot of the geriatrics out there.

HardenendMan · 29-07-2016 10:46PM

Captain Chaos wrote: »

All the ones in Donegal were in the early hours and aged late teens to early twentys, more than likely drink related plus wreckless driving. Add to that the very low garda presence in the county in general so there is a lack of deterence .

Don't agree. Late teens and early hours is more likely inexperienced guys pushing beyond their limits.

SEPT 23 1989 · 29-07-2016 10:46PM

Was there not a cash register found on the back seat of one of the cars

Atlantic Dawn · 29-07-2016 10:47PM

4 of 5 killed one of those days were not wearing seat belts, basic common sense out the window.

VincePP · 29-07-2016 10:52PM

risteard7 wrote: »

Drink driving is an excuse used all the time. How many of the 12 poor people had alcohol in their system??

38% of driver fatalities in the past 12 months had alcohol in their system.

In kerry, over 30% of those caught drink driving were males under 29 - that's a phenomenal percentage.

Minderbinder · 29-07-2016 10:53PM

In my opinion the use of phones is more dangerous than alcohol up to a point. Personally I think I could have three or four pints and be grand but if I was trying to use my phone I'd be an instant danger to myself and others. I never use my phone when driving. I don't even like tuning the radio station when I'm driving.

I think for some people alcohol makes them feel invincible so they drive faster but I'd be the opposite if I had a pint with dinner or something.

pablo128 · 29-07-2016 10:54PM

Captain Chaos wrote: »

All the ones in Donegal were in the early hours and aged late teens to early twentys, more than likely drink related plus wreckless driving. Add to that the very low garda presence in the county in general so there is a lack of deterence .

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

4 of 5 killed one of those days were not wearing seat belts, basic common sense out the window.

4 of the dead in Donegal weren't wearing belts. I doubt the cash register lads would have survived but it was very possible the others would have survived looking at pictures of the crash.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 29-07-2016 10:56PM

Maybe they're mentally ill and need our understanding, and we should try to understand them more so they're not so tempted to get behind the wheel and kill innocent people?

Or is that only a valid excuse when it's terrorism?

Lisha · 29-07-2016 10:57PM

I would never ever drink and drive. I know it's difficult living rurally getting taxis etc, but that's no excuse imho.
There is no excuse for it.

But if people aren't afraid of getting caught then it prob will creep back in.

VincePP · 29-07-2016 11:23PM

Minderbinder wrote: »

In my opinion the use of phones is more dangerous than alcohol up to a point. Personally I think I could have three or four pints and be grand but if I was trying to use my phone I'd be an instant danger to myself and others. I never use my phone when driving. I don't even like tuning the radio station when I'm driving.

I think for some people alcohol makes them feel invincible so they drive faster but I'd be the opposite if I had a pint with dinner or something.

If i saw that post 30 years ago, I'd almost understand. But to say you can have 4 pints and feel safe to drive is utter stupidity at its very highest.

Your reaction times are impaired with alcohol. 4 pints and you simply won't react to any situation in a proper and safe manner - if the situation is bad, expect a serious accident and permanent damage to yourself.

Visit the rehabilitation hospital in dunlaoghaire - talk to a few there. It will change your mind.

The Backwards Man · 29-07-2016 11:28PM

There's more people drinking and driving now than ever before I'd say, it's crazy how many are at it out there. You have more chance of winning the lotto than meeting a checkpoint where I live, it's crazy

But I still think phones are a bigger problem in saying that, every second car you meet has an eejit if a driver staring at a phone, they don't even put them to their ears any more, they're holding the fcuking things in front of them and staring at them when they're driving.

murpho999 · 29-07-2016 11:35PM

Minderbinder wrote: »

In my opinion the use of phones is more dangerous than alcohol up to a point. Personally I think I could have three or four pints and be grand but if I was trying to use my phone I'd be an instant danger to myself and others. I never use my phone when driving. I don't even like tuning the radio station when I'm driving.

I think for some people alcohol makes them feel invincible so they drive faster but I'd be the opposite if I had a pint with dinner or something.

You think you're ok with three or four pints to drive, but do you actually do that?

bigroad · 29-07-2016 11:40PM

Your local gp gives you drugs.
But not too much about that in the statistics.

petrolcan · 29-07-2016 11:48PM

HardenendMan wrote: »

Don't agree. Late teens and early hours is more likely inexperienced guys pushing beyond their limits.

This ^^^ in spades.

It has always been an issue in Donegal for as long as I remember.

petrolcan · 29-07-2016 11:48PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Was there not a cash register found on the back seat of one of the cars

Link or hearsay? If the latter, shame!

s4uv3 · 29-07-2016 11:50PM

I'm 34, been driving since I was 19, and often drive to and from town late at night (sober

) if I go out. I'm in the car multiple times per day. Live in a ruralish county.

I've never once been breathalised. Haven't come across a general checkpoint in probably a couple of years. There just isn't enough of a chance of getting caught to deter a lot of people

pablo128 · 29-07-2016 11:50PM

petrolcan wrote: »

Link or hearsay? If the latter, shame!

Its all over the news, mate. One of them was previously convicted for a ram raid.

pablo128 · 29-07-2016 11:51PM

s4uv3 wrote: »

I'm 34, been driving since I was 19, and often drive to and from town late at night (sober ) if I go out. I'm in the car multiple times per day. Live in a ruralish county.

I've never once been breathalised. Haven't come across a general checkpoint in probably a couple of years. There just isn't enough of a chance of getting caught to deter a lot of people

I live in Tallaght in Dublin. Its pretty much the same here!

petrolcan · 29-07-2016 11:54PM

pablo128 wrote: »

Its all over the news, mate. One of them was previously convicted for a ram raid.

<<<My Location!

When I look at Irish news I tend to concentrate on the North and saw no mention of a cash register.

pablo128 · 30-07-2016 12:08AM

petrolcan wrote: »

<<<My Location!

When I look at Irish news I tend to concentrate on the North and saw no mention of a cash register.

I didn't realise. I'm having trouble trying to link it on my phone but if you google the Irish Daily Mirror you should get the story from a day or 2 ago.

petrolcan · 30-07-2016 12:15AM

pablo128 wrote: »

I didn't realise. I'm having trouble trying to link it on my phone but if you google the Irish Daily Mirror you should get the story from a day or 2 ago.

Looked but cannot find a story mentioning as such. Surely there has to be a better source that the feckin Mirror?

biko · 30-07-2016 12:15AM

I'm a safer driver when I'm drunk

I drive like 3 mph

pablo128 · 30-07-2016 12:17AM

petrolcan wrote: »

Looked but cannot find a story mentioning as such. Surely there has to be a better source that the feckin Mirror?

Got it now.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/two-young-men-killed-head-8505788

DontThankMe · 30-07-2016 12:19AM

Don't drink and drive just smoke and fly!

Drink Driving

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