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

Whosbetter? · 30-11-2009 01:16AM

Back in 2001, myself & 3 pals drove from New York to Los Angeles.

Coast to Coast.

We called our car the BVG, (beer guided vehicle).:eek:

No harm done to anybody.

30-11-2009 01:21AM

One thing that is missing from this discussion has been how to define the limit, in some countries there is "randon breath testing" like here for example, all traffic is stopped and all drivers are tested (or checked for alcohol on the breath) other countries (UK for example) will stop drivers who are doing "something wrong" then breath test them.

Some countries (the US, can't think who else) will stop drivers who are doing "something wrong" then give them a sobierty test!

Such a test would test your abilities to perform simple tasks that are directly related to your competance behind the wheel, these tasks (apparently) determine whether you can safely drive a car. they do not take the amount of alcohol in your breath at the time of being stopped.

Mr. CooL ICE · 30-11-2009 01:23AM

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'd be the same tbh

I've heard too many stories of people being arrested for being over the limit the next morning to take any chances. I would at least have a breakfast and lunch/dinner in me, as well as plenty of water and self assurance that any feeling of a hangover is gone before I drive anywhere

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 01:26AM

LordChessington wrote: »

I'd be the same tbh

I've heard too many stories of people being arrested for being over the limit the next morning to take any chances. I would at least have a breakfast and lunch/dinner in me, as well as plenty of water and self assurance that any feeling of a hangover is gone before I drive anywhere

But Caterpillar said he wouldn't drive the next day after five pints!.

You'd have to be the heavy weight champion of Bangladesh for five pints to have had that effect on you the next day!.

Helix · 30-11-2009 01:27AM

Emmet Drab Flashbulb wrote: »

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

why not? i said the same thing earlier in the thread

if ive been drinking the day before i dont drive

stepbar · 30-11-2009 01:28AM

Tonight I've had 4 cans of nice cool Carlsberg. Could I drive? I'd say I could. Would I do it? No, not in a month of Sunday's. The point is that trying to compare drink tolerances amongst different types of people is beyond retarded. I just wish I had a breathalizer testing machine on me at the moment and was able to read the results to the forum. I'd say I wouldn't be far beyond the limit TBH.

Mr. CooL ICE · 30-11-2009 01:31AM

Emmet Drab Flashbulb wrote: »

But Caterpillar said he wouldn't drive the next day after five pints!.

You'd have to be the heavy weight champion of Bangladesh for five pints to have had that effect on you the next day!.

Afaik, chatterpillar is a she, so 5 pints is more likely to affect her worse than you :P

I only drink 2-3 weeks so don't have much hangover tolerance to speak of, so 5 pints to me (6ft, med build) is enough to give me a nasty hangover at times

we'llallhavetea_old · 30-11-2009 01:32AM

i drive the following morning.... probably shouldn't.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 30-11-2009 01:35AM

LordChessington wrote: »

Afaik, chatterpillar is a she, so 5 pints is more likely to affect her worse than you :P

Now that would probably make a difference.

Cat. have a good ol' Chinese then a breakfast roll next morning and your good to go :P

/like's a girl who's a pint drinker!.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 01:36AM

LordChessington wrote: »

Afaik, chatterpillar is a she, so 5 pints is more likely to affect her worse than you :P

I only drink 2-3 weeks so don't have much hangover tolerance to speak of, so 5 pints to me (6ft, med build) is enough to give me a nasty hangover at times

Do you know what? Many a night I've had my fill of between 8 - 10 pints of good Guinness and have never had a hangover... plenty of flatulation the next day but I rarely have proper hangovers like I had back in the student days when my beer of choice was Bulmers :eek:

Could I drive home? Probably but I never would, NEVER.

30-11-2009 01:50AM

stepbar wrote: »

Tonight I've had 4 cans of nice cool Carlsberg. Could I drive? I'd say I could. Would I do it? No, not in a month of Sunday's. The point is that trying to compare drink tolerances amongst different types of people is beyond retarded. I just wish I had a breathalizer testing machine on me at the moment and was able to read the results to the forum. I'd say I wouldn't be far beyond the limit TBH.

I'd like to see the results of the breathalizer and a US style sobiaety test just to see if it, or the absolute fixed limit would consider you fit to drive.

rafared · 30-11-2009 01:51AM

No. Never have never will. The limit shold be Zero IMO.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 01:56AM

rafared wrote: »

No. Never have never will. The limit shold be Zero IMO.

Why? because you have no drink tolerance? Please :rolleyes:

Wibbs · 30-11-2009 01:58AM

Yep did it once or twice in my youth decades ago. As did most of my mates too. Now I wouldnt TBH. The times I did were mostly fine. Dead of night stuff. Not too squiffy. Didnt meet any other cars. Daft? Yes damn right. Equally daft is the person who drives while massively fatigued, or otherwise derelict, (drugs, prescription or illegal). Though the fear on pot etc would ensure you never reached any more speed than a run down milk float. I've read. Apparently.

I think it's one of those safety memes that's current, that many sheep like to get behind to be right on, Mkay, like not wearing a seatbelt(did that too), not smoking(Oops), not binge drinking(ehhh ohh ehhh) or not wearing a rubber jonathon every single time and getting regular STD tests, between each partner(meh mostly). Many pay lip service, yet......but I would have to say of all those drink driving is one that I would wholeheartedly agree with.

jd007 · 30-11-2009 02:00AM

Well i don't have a car so I guess the simple answer is no.

30-11-2009 02:01AM

This thread does highlight one of the failings of the curent system (pass/fail) nothing in between!

Should there be a situation where the penalties are graded on exactly how drunk the driver actually is.

I won't define breathalyser readings, but general terms:

Slightly tipsy - (A traffic cop wouldn't stop this driver, but is stopped at a checkpoint) - three month ban
tipsy- (A traffic cop wouldn't stop this driver - but was seen leaving a pub & acting gullty!) - six month ban

slightly drunk (A traffic cop would stop this driver as he is acting odd) - one year

all the way up to pissed ten years ban and retake of the driving test.

30-11-2009 02:02AM

rafared wrote: »

No. Never have never will. The limit shold be Zero IMO.

Zero is impossible, some people can produce achohol in their own bodies from eating certain foods.

Wibbs · 30-11-2009 02:03AM

I've cycled absolutely palatic and otherwise in a mentally altered state. Does that count? If it was a crime to drink walk I would have singlehandedly been responsible for reintroducing the death penalty.

The Big Red Button · 30-11-2009 02:06AM

rafared wrote: »

No. Never have never will. The limit shold be Zero IMO.

Now, as I've said so far in this thread, I have imposed a pretty-much-zero limit on myself .... but the idea of instating one across the board? That's just unfair and unattainable. For various reasons.

stepbar · 30-11-2009 02:08AM

Wibbs wrote: »

I've cycled absolutely palatic and otherwise in a mentally altered state. Does that count? If it was a crime to drink walk I would have singlehandedly been responsible for reintroducing the death penalty.

And so have I back in the day when cycling from the IFSC after 6 pints of Bulmers was in fashion (not to say it ever was but...). Was I more alert? Damm sure I was. Probably more alert then sober. Do you know my one and only cycling accident was a mistake on my own part. I was cycling down Dawson St and managed to fall off my bike completly sober (and I didn't even hit a car either). Stupidity on my own part.

30-11-2009 02:08AM

Wibbs wrote: »

I think it's one of those safety memes that's current, that many sheep like to get behind to be right on, Mkay, like not wearing a seatbelt(did that too), not smoking(Oops), not binge drinking(ehhh ohh ehhh) or not wearing a rubber jonathon every single time and getting regular STD tests, between each partner(meh mostly). Many pay lip service, yet......but I would have to say of all those drink driving is one that I would wholeheartedly agree with.

Sheep, most of are sheep in one way or another, why do you think the priest calls the congregation his flock!

Drink driving is bad! speeding is baad! disobaying the law is baaaad!
but in all circumstances, the degree that the law was broken by must be taken into account when the sentance is handed down.

K-9 · 30-11-2009 02:10AM

Deleted User wrote: »

This thread does highlight one of the failings of the curent system (pass/fail) nothing in between!

Should there be a situation where the penalties are graded on exactly how drunk the driver actually is.

I won't define breathalyser readings, but general terms:

Slightly tipsy - (A traffic cop wouldn't stop this driver, but is stopped at a checkpoint) - three month ban
tipsy- (A traffic cop wouldn't stop this driver - but was seen leaving a pub & acting gullty!) - six month ban

slightly drunk (A traffic cop would stop this driver as he is acting odd) - one year

all the way up to pissed ten years ban and retake of the driving test.

It's one of these things, how do you legislate for it?

If somebody can handle 8 pints and is a great driver, what does the Guard do?

Ask them out for 8 pints tomorrow night and see can they drive ok?

LD 50 · 30-11-2009 02:16AM

As I don't have a car, no.

But I have cycled drunk before. Not fun. I don't recommend it.

Teferi · 30-11-2009 02:17AM

rafared wrote: »

No. Never have never will. The limit shold be Zero IMO.

I think there should be zero tolerance on bad spelling. :pac:

Seriously though, you are only taking into consideration your own lifestyle. Don't be silly.

brendansmith · 30-11-2009 02:29AM

Risk is too high.

Liam Byrne · 30-11-2009 02:36AM

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Driving while drunk is pretty irresponsible

100% agreed. In fact, I'd go further and say that driving while drunk is worse than "irresponsible"; it's downright criminal! Which is probably why it's a crime!!!!

partyatmygaff wrote: »

irresponsible drivers are rarely good drivers.

Again, agreed.

So if you had said:

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

I would probably have put some credence in your statement; it'd be unproven, but at least there would be logic to it.

But the fact is that you didn't say that. You said :

partyatmygaff wrote: »

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

Which is ridiculous.

Those who consciously have what they can take - whether it's below or up to the limit - are behaving responsibly.

partyatmygaff wrote: »

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

I'm "indignant" because your statement was wrong. Nothing more, nothing less.

And ignorant generalisations - whether I've driven once ever with 2 pints or 1,000 times with 1 pint - is insulting, because there's nothing "irresponsible" about that.

30-11-2009 02:36AM

K-9 wrote: »

It's one of these things, how do you legislate for it?

If somebody can handle 8 pints and is a great driver, what does the Guard do?

Ask them out for 8 pints tomorrow night and see can they drive ok?

Yes that's the great difficulty in legistrating the limit! blood/alcohol stats are the most reliable, but the law is so (yes/no, black/white) about it.

Drunk drivers involved in accidents are nearly always several multiples of the legal when tested. that's what makes it so unfair to some one who skipped a meal and had two pints and gets done and the book thrown at them even though the cops being honest would never had stopped them if seen driving along.

MmmmmCheese · 30-11-2009 02:39AM

What counts as drunk driving?

2 pints?

Liam Byrne · 30-11-2009 02:44AM

MmmmmCheese wrote: »

What counts as drunk driving?

2 pints?

Apparently, the limit is one pint in the first hour and one every two hours after that....anything over that is "drunk driving".

Strangely (and I've said this before) this means that 5 pints during a long wedding day (say, 6pm - 2am) would be viewed as "safe". I don't think I'd chance that, however "legal" it might be.

But most people posting here are adamant to lump irresponsible drunks with "know-your-limits" law-abiders, and it's an annoying witch-hunt in that regard.

I'd suggest splitting the thread into two; one asking for opinions re "over the limit / drunk drivers", and one for opinions about those within the limits.

The thread title does not mention "drunk", so it covers - apparently - even someone who has a glass of wine with a meal, or a shandy while watching a match, and then drives home, lumbering us in with idiots who stagger to their cars after 10 pints and meander their way home, putting at risk those who've had 10 pints and chosen to walk home on a country road.

30-11-2009 02:47AM

MmmmmCheese wrote: »

What counts as drunk driving?

2 pints?

It depends:

your weight
your BMI (body Mass Index)
what you have eaten
when you ate
how quickly you drank the alcohol
how much non-alcoholic dring you had also consumed.

Simple really

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

Comments