Drink Driving...DO YOU DO IT ? ? ?

Pace2008 · 30-11-2009 12:24AM

Odysseus wrote: »

What I would be curious about is how many people here would said no, would drive after a joint, based upon previous threads there are quite a few people here who use recreational drugs, so what the story on that one.

Do people drive after they have taken something other than alcohol?

I personally wouldn't drive on psychoactives of any kind, though I reckon a low dose of stimulants could actually improve your abilities. I have a friend who smokes spliffs in the car all the time and thinks nothing of it, and from what I gather there are plenty of others out there with a similar mindset. Weed doesn't impair your judgement to the same extent as alcohol but it's still completely unsuitable for drving I think getting behind the wheel when you're blazed is very irresponsible.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 12:25AM

If a real concerted effort is going to be made on the issue of drink driving, the availability of proper testing machines in places like pubs should be promoted. In fact if I was a publican I'd have such a machine in my premises without having a second thought about it.

Odysseus · 30-11-2009 12:31AM

Pace2008 wrote: »

I personally wouldn't drive on psychoactives of any kind, though I reckon a low dose of stimulants could actually improve your abilities. I have a friend who smokes spliffs in the car all the time and thinks nothing of it, and from what I gather there are plenty of others out there with a similar mindset. Weed doesn't impair your judgement to the same extent as alcohol but it's still completely unsuitable for drving I think getting behind the wheel when you're blazed is very irresponsible.

I'm on a bike at the time so I see a lot of people smoking a spliff whilst I'm moving through traffic, amost applying make, making calls, reading papers, some of the stuff is crazy. However, back to the point drug driving does appear to be more acceptable for some reason.

partyatmygaff · 30-11-2009 12:32AM

Never have and never will.

The drivers likely to drink and drive are usually some of the worst while sober and drink definitley does not help their driving skills.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 12:36AM

I've had a few pints and drove in the past.

I'd still chance two pints.

The Pontiac · 30-11-2009 12:39AM

If the same question was asked say 8-10 years ago I think you'd get a very different response. It's hard to believe how common it was only a few years ago (people totally pissed too). It's just a no-go now and rightly so.

tommmy1979 · 30-11-2009 12:42AM

Never have but i'd really like to have a go.. in a safe environment where nobody can get hurt except myself of course, like a race track maybe. What about a drunk motor race?? all the competitors must consume at least 10 pints before taking part

would be hilarious

pebbles21 · 30-11-2009 12:43AM

Can someone explain to me how a guy i know ,had 7/8 pints after work one evening

Gets into his van and is pulled up by an unmarked garda car two mins later

Hes asked to blow into the breathalyzer and it comes up just under the limit

Apparently the garda and himself was shocked ,so off he goes home

BTW hes mid 50s approx 5ft 8 and approx 17 stone ,oh and that night when he got home he picked up his wife and went out again in his car and thought to himself "sure the chances of getting stopped twice on the one night is nil"

DICKHEAD!:mad:

Liam Byrne · 30-11-2009 12:46AM

partyatmygaff wrote: »

The drivers likely to drink and drive are usually some of the worst while sober

Any facts to back up this ridiculous generalisation ? :rolleyes:

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 12:46AM

My licence is far too important to me to risk it. I have never wanted a drink that much that I would actually risk not being able to drive for the next x number of years for it.

Plus, I am a lightweight. If I had one drink in me, I would notice it. And I would be afraid of it affecting my driving.

My rule is, I will not drive the same day I have been drinking. As in, if I have a glass of wine with my lunch at one o clock, I wouldn't drive for the rest of the day. Unnecessary, I know, but if I needed to drive that evening I'd just plan to not drink that day ... not very difficult. It's not like I'd often be drinking during the day anyways!!

As for the next day ... if I was having a few drinks (i.e. less than five) I'd drive after midday the next day. Any more than five, I wouldn't drive at all the day after. If I knew I had to drive somewhere the next day, I'd make a point of not drinking more than five.

Paranoid? Maybe. The fact is, I take driving as a huge responsibility. I never want to be in the position of causing an accident. And I will do everything in my power to prevent that. I can only hope that the other drivers that I meet on the road do the same.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 12:48AM

As far as I'm concerned 2 pints of beer does not greatly impair your judgement in terms of driving. I hold my hands up here and say that I've often drank no more than 2 pints and drove home when I've been down the country. It might be spaced over 2 hours or so but TBH I've felt no different than the minute I stepped inside the pub sober. Put that's probably due to the fact that I've always had a good feed of food before I've gone out. It's when someone takes it upon themselves to go beyond that and drive home is where the issues lie. As I've said its a real issue particularily in the countryside when you might not see a Garda from one week to the next. As I've said in a previous post, my experience of policing in my area would lead people to hop in their car without having any consequence. Something has to change if we are going to make in roads to solving this problem.

partyatmygaff · 30-11-2009 12:48AM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Any facts to back up this ridiculous generalisation ? :rolleyes:

Its not completely unfounded.

Driving while drunk is pretty irresponsible, irresponsible drivers are rarely good drivers.

Why are you so indignant anyway? Do you drink and drive regularly?

tolosenc · 30-11-2009 12:49AM

Once drove home after 2 pints. Never been so terrified in my life. Never again.

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 12:51AM

stepbar wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned 2 pints of beer does not greatly impair your judgement in terms of driving. I hold my hands up here and say that I've often drank no more than 2 pints and drove home when I've been down the country. It might be spaced over 2 hours or so but TBH I've felt no different than the minute I stepped inside the pub sober. It's when someone takes it upon themselves to go beyond that and drive home. As I've said its a real issue particularily in the country side when you might not see a Garda from one week to the next. As I've said in a previous post, my experience of policing in my area would lead people to hop in their car without having any consequence. Something has to change if we are going to make in roads to solving this problem.

But what I don't get is ... do you really want those two pints that much that you'd actually risk it?

Would it not be just handier to either (a) go on the beer properly or (b) just not drink?

drkpower · 30-11-2009 12:52AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

My licence is far too important to me to risk it. I have never wanted a drink that much that I would actually risk not being able to drive for the next x number of years for it.

Plus, I am a lightweight. If I had one drink in me, I would notice it. And I would be afraid of it affecting my driving.

My rule is, I will not drive the same day I have been drinking. As in, if I have a glass of wine with my lunch at one o clock, I wouldn't drive for the rest of the day. Unnecessary, I know, but if I needed to drive that evening I'd just plan to not drink that day ... not very difficult. It's not like I'd often be drinking during the day anyways!!

As for the next day ... if I was having a few drinks (i.e. less than five) I'd drive after midday the next day. Any more than five, I wouldn't drive at all the day after. If I knew I had to drive somewhere the next day, I'd make a point of not drinking more than five.

Paranoid? Maybe. The fact is, I take driving as a huge responsibility. I never want to be in the position of causing an accident. And I will do everything in my power to prevent that. I can only hope that the other drivers that I meet on the road do the same.

No point in being silly about it!

Do you have the same tolerance level for driving when you are a little bit tired.....or stressed...?
Obviously driving with alcohol on board is not a good idea but there are many other things that affect driving ability and taking things to an extreme level re: alcohol is a little silly.

CrinkElite · 30-11-2009 12:54AM

gramlab wrote: »

Speed is a problem - Not being able to drive at speed safely is an even bigger one.

Any sort of speed + drink = twat

but the speed kinda cancels out the booze, the trick is to balance it out.:D

30-11-2009 12:57AM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Amazing that no-one has made the distinction between legally drinking & driving ( 2 - 3 pints) and driving drunk.

Driving after one or two, well under the legal limit : yes.
Driving drunk : no.

That has always being the hardest conclusion to make, 79.9 OK 80.0 drunk -"you're nicked" one years ban end of... the line is rigid and unyealding, in the old daya (& currently still in the UK ) the cops would only stop you if they thought "sonething fishy here". some drivers are iffy stone cold sober and would be stopped and brethalysed, others who could drive would pass any US style sobriety test would fail a test based on an absolute limit.

Too many here still have a black and white outlook on life!

30-11-2009 12:59AM

stepbar wrote: »

If a real concerted effort is going to be made on the issue of drink driving, the availability of proper testing machines in places like pubs should be promoted. In fact if I was a publican I'd have such a machine in my premises without having a second thought about it.

One of the local pubs has a minibus on standby on certain nights.

Great idea!!!!

Last time I went to that pub I used it and got the car the next day!

( wher's th drunk smiley)

tommmy1979 · 30-11-2009 01:00AM

we need to start thinking outside the box here people..

how about legalising drink driving after midnight at weekends or something..

sort of like consentual drink driving if you like, cars could be retro-fitted with giant airbags in front in case a pedestrian gets in the way

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 01:00AM

drkpower wrote: »

No point in being silly about it!

Do you have the same tolerance level for driving when you are a little bit tired.....or stressed...?
Obviously driving with alcohol on board is not a good idea but there are many other things that affect driving ability and taking things to an extreme level re: alcohol is a little silly.

Oh believe me, I do!

If I know I'm going to have a hard week at work, I'll make a point of getting the train home after. I can honestly say that, if I was driving tired, I would call someone to collect me and I would leave my car at the side of the road. I seriously, seriously would!

I know somebody who has died in a car accident. Well I know a few, but I'm thinking of one in particular. He was the driver and the only person who was hurt. And he died instantly. A silly, silly little misjudgement on his part ... one that anybody could make.

Whatever about my own life - which I do value - I'm certainly not going to count on my judgment alone when I'm taking other peoples' lives into account. So I'm just not going to take chances when driving. As far as I'm concerned, that's my responsibility. As a driver.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 01:01AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

My licence is far too important to me to risk it. I have never wanted a drink that much that I would actually risk not being able to drive for the next x number of years for it.

Plus, I am a lightweight. If I had one drink in me, I would notice it. And I would be afraid of it affecting my driving.

My rule is, I will not drive the same day I have been drinking. As in, if I have a glass of wine with my lunch at one o clock, I wouldn't drive for the rest of the day. Unnecessary, I know, but if I needed to drive that evening I'd just plan to not drink that day ... not very difficult. It's not like I'd often be drinking during the day anyways!!

As for the next day ... if I was having a few drinks (i.e. less than five) I'd drive after midday the next day. Any more than five, I wouldn't drive at all the day after. If I knew I had to drive somewhere the next day, I'd make a point of not drinking more than five.

Paranoid? Maybe. The fact is, I take driving as a huge responsibility. I never want to be in the position of causing an accident. And I will do everything in my power to prevent that. I can only hope that the other drivers that I meet on the road do the same.

Your making that up for the thread, and maybe a few 'thanks' right?.

I can't believe for a moment that someone could be that uptight.

I refuse to believe that yo uwouldn't drive anytime during the next day if you'd comsumed five pints the previous!.

The Pontiac · 30-11-2009 01:01AM

drkpower wrote: »

No point in being silly about it!

Do you have the same tolerance level for driving when you are a little bit tired.....or stressed...?
Obviously driving with alcohol on board is not a good idea but there are many other things that affect driving ability and taking things to an extreme level re: alcohol is a little silly.

You should send an email to your local politician asking him how the hauliers in this country are regulated. It's farcical compared to the UK and the rest of Europe (like a lot of things).

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 01:04AM

Emmet Drab Flashbulb wrote: »

Your making that up for the thread, and maybe a few 'thanks' right?.

I can't believe for a moment that someone could be that uptight.

I refuse to believe that yo uwouldn't drive anytime during the next day if you'd comsumed five pints the previous!.

I am being totally serious!

It probably helps that I never usually "need" to drive; plenty of my friends and family members do.

I actually am that "uptight". Except I wouldn't necessarily see it as such ... like, either I'm drinking (and not driving the next day), or I'm not! Simple as that.

30-11-2009 01:07AM

pebbles21 wrote: »

Can someone explain to me how a guy i know ,had 7/8 pints after work one evening

Gets into his van and is pulled up by an unmarked garda car two mins later

Hes asked to blow into the breathalyzer and it comes up just under the limit

Apparently the garda and himself was shocked ,so off he goes home

BTW hes mid 50s approx 5ft 8 and approx 17 stone ,

Body mass/alcohol ratio and time taken to drink + food taken, I've also known people to pass the breath test just like that!

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 01:08AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

I am being totally serious!

It probably helps that I never usually "need" to drive; plenty of my friends and family members do.

I actually am that "uptight". Except I wouldn't necessarily see it as such ... like, either I'm drinking (and not driving the next day), or I'm not! Simple as that.

Ok, but tbh with ya ... it wouldn't be me.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 01:08AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

But what I don't get is ... do you really want those two pints that much that you'd actually risk it?

Would it not be just handier to either (a) go on the beer properly or (b) just not drink?

Look, I go into the pub to watch a soccer match for argument sake. I might bring in a friend and we'll have a sociable pint or two and go home afterwards. I don't want to go on the "lash". I might do that later minus the car. The point is that as far as I'm concerned 2 pints has no effect on me. 2 pints on someone else may make a difference.

Pace2008 · 30-11-2009 01:08AM

chatterpillar wrote: »

But what I don't get is ... do you really want those two pints that much that you'd actually risk it?

Would it not be just handier to either (a) go on the beer properly or (b) just not drink?

I don't think this makes much sense to anyone other than you.

Gary ITR · 30-11-2009 01:10AM

After a glass of wine or bottle of beer I will drive. I would never have any more though and I would never gulp it down.

If I have a right skinful I won't drive the next day until at least the evening and that's only if I really need to.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 01:12AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Body mass/alcohol ratio and time taken to drink + food taken, I've also known people to pass the breath test just like that!

I'd probably be the same.

I'm 6'2'' and 18st. I'm touch typing in the dark after my ninth can of Guinness and two pints in the local earlier and still feeling pretty straight (DAMMIT).

Worst side effect I'll have tonight or early morning is waking for a piss at 4am and cursing the gargle I had earlier.

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 01:14AM

Emmet Drab Flashbulb wrote: »

Ok, but tbh with ya ... it wouldn't be me.

stepbar wrote: »

Look, I go into the pub to watch a soccer match for argument sake. I might bring in a friend and we'll have a sociable pint or two and go home afterwards. I don't want to go on the "lash". I might do that later minus the car. The point is that as far as I'm concerned 2 pints has no effect on me. 2 pints on someone else may make a difference.

Pace2008 wrote: »

I don't think this makes much sense to anyone other than you.

That's all fair enough! But to be honest, if I have one drink - even only half a pint - I do feel it on me, and I do feel it would affect my judgment when driving.

Therefore, for my own conscience, I couldn't ever possibly drive with any drink at all on me.

And I'm well aware that I do take it to extremes. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm taking it to extremes in the right direction. And I'm happy with that!

To be honest, I'd much rather just go out and get hammered and not be worried about the next day! Rather than go out and have a few and be freaking out all the way home.

Drink Driving...DO YOU DO IT ? ? ?

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