My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 05:34PM #1

I was driving home from the pub last night after having a couple of pints while waiting for a chinese. Before I get lectured about being irresponsible the pub is on the age of a small village with deserted country roads about 2 miles from my house.

The pub was deserted, especially for a Friday night. A couple of weeks ago an elderly bachelor was found dead in his house. He was last seen 4 days before by the postman. This was a man that went to the village for a couple of pints every night and drove home about 3 miles again along quiet back roads.

The man in question had stopped going to the village since the introduction of the stricter drink driving limits which effectively mean any more than a pint and you could be convicted for drink driving.

I am also aware of the hurt and damage caused by drunk drivers and the misery this has left in its wake.

However. My idea is to allow a higher drink driving limit for people driving tractors. Say to double the current limit so someone driving a tractor could have 2 to 3 pints and still drive home.

What do you think?

Owen_S · 19-05-2012 05:35PM

Mattie we know it's you, stop hiding under that alias.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 19-05-2012 05:36PM

I think 2 miles is a nice walk home.

aaronjumper · 19-05-2012 05:36PM

Let people that drive vehicles that can crush other vehicles drink more?
Really?

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 05:37PM

If you can afford to go out drinking then you can afford a taxi home.

Simple as.

Pedro K · 19-05-2012 05:37PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

The man in question had stopped going to the village since the introduction of the stricter drink driving limits which effectively mean any more than a pint and you could be convicted for drink driving.

What do you think?

He could have gone to the pub and drank non alcoholic drinks, no?

littlehedgehog · 19-05-2012 05:37PM

Go to the pub and not drink.. or drink non-alcoholic beers..?

Canis Lupus · 19-05-2012 05:40PM

I'm just waiting for the googlecar to go into mass production. Drink driving problem solved.

El Weirdo · 19-05-2012 05:40PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

If you can afford to go out drinking then you can afford a taxi home.

Simple as.

Whilst I don't agree with the OP; that really isn't a viable option in rural areas.

Shryke · 19-05-2012 05:41PM

Somehow I don't think an old mans inability to get locked is the real issue here.

tvercetti · 19-05-2012 05:41PM

Make a rule that after a certain time, a one way system is employed, preferably all roads leading away from the pub, problem solved!

M cebee · 19-05-2012 05:41PM

that's a non runner

they can cycle although that's dangerous enough

a lot of people round my way just take a chance and drive home

someone will ring the local pub if the guards are pulling

aaronjumper · 19-05-2012 05:42PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

Whilst I don't agree with the OP, that really isn't a viable option in rural areas.

It is if you arrange one earlier in the day. Like my parents do to get home from the pub that's near where they live, which is the back of beyond.

lazygal · 19-05-2012 05:44PM

Is it really that hard to not drink alcohol? Does the need to imbibe alcohol trump the need for social interaction in the pub?

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 05:44PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

Whilst I don't agree with the OP; that really isn't a viable option in rural areas.

Why?

partyatmygaff · 19-05-2012 05:46PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

The pub was deserted, especially for a Friday night. A couple of weeks ago an elderly bachelor was found dead in his house. He was last seen 4 days before by the postman. This was a man that went to the village for a couple of pints every night and drove home about 3 miles again along quiet back roads.

The man in question had stopped going to the village since the introduction of the stricter drink driving limits which effectively mean any more than a pint and you could be convicted for drink driving.

As sad as that story is, it's hardly the government's fault that someone's only means of socialising is getting drunk.

However. My idea is to allow a higher drink driving limit for people driving tractors. Say to double the current limit so someone driving a tractor could have 2 to 3 pints and still drive home.

What do you think?

I think you should extend that brilliant idea. The heavier and bigger your vehicle, the higher the limit. Perfectly sensible, as i'm sure everyone else will agree.

Icepick · 19-05-2012 05:47PM

satellite Internet

MadYaker · 19-05-2012 05:47PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

Why?

Because there are no taxis...

ball · 19-05-2012 06:04PM

Why don't more people cycle home?
At least that way you're not putting anyone else at risk. You'll probably fall into a bush or something.
The worst case scenario is being knocked over by a car. But that's a lot better than crashing a car yourself, right?

Plus, you won't get your push-bike license taken from you!

jaffacakesyum · 19-05-2012 06:07PM

I don't know how anyone can justify drink driving. I don't give a sh1t if you're in a rural area. It's an incredibly stupid and selfish thing to do.

As for the OP's suggestion, wtf?

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 06:07PM

MadYaker wrote: »

Because there are no taxis...

There are no taxis in rural Ireland? Really? Not one? :eek:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 19-05-2012 06:09PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

There are no taxis in rural Ireland? Really? Not one? :eek:

No, but he's two stools over.

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 06:12PM

Pedro K wrote: »

He could have gone to the pub and drank non alcoholic drinks, no?

Yes he could have gone to the pub and had a cup of tea and a game of cards. But you have to remember this was a man of a certain generation in rural Ireland. He would nt go to a pub for a mineral or cup of tea any more than he would go to his GP and say he was lonely or depressed.

It may not make sense but thats just the way it is.

lazygal · 19-05-2012 06:13PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Yes he could have gone to the pub and had a cup of tea and a game of cards. But you have to remember this was a man of a certain generation in rural Ireland. He would nt go to a pub for a mineral or cup of tea any more than he would go to his GP and say he was lonely or depressed.

It may not make sense but thats just the way it is.

The drink driving laws might not make sense to him either but that's just the way it is.

MadYaker · 19-05-2012 06:13PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

There are no taxis in rural Ireland? Really? Not one? :eek:

Jesus wept. Im guessing you're from Dublin? In small rural villages taxis are virtually non existant. Think about it.

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 06:13PM

MadYaker wrote: »

Because there are no taxis...

hairyprincess wrote: »

There are no taxis in rural Ireland? Really? Not one? :eek:

It's hard to argue with the statistics

Living most of my life in rural Ireland I've never had a problem getting a taxi. Especially if you are just going out for a few drinks, then there really is no excuse to not book your taxi to go home before you even go out.

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/taxi/taxi-statistics/vehicle-licences-county-and-category-january-2012/

goose2005 · 19-05-2012 06:15PM

A tractor is harder to manoeuvre and probably has worse brakes than a car, so is probably more likely to end up in a ditch. If he lives in the middle of nowhere, he has about a 1 in 100000 chance of a gard stopping him, couldn't he just risk it?

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 06:16PM

MadYaker wrote: »

Jesus wept. Im guessing you're from Dublin? In small rural villages taxis are virtually non existant. Think about it.

If you look at my past posts you will figure out I'm from Donegal. I live in a tiny village and can name off six taxi services off the top of my head. So, sorry but I don't buy that excuse

Red21 · 19-05-2012 06:17PM

Most of the folk who your, Drunk tractor driving scheme is aimed at don't have their tractors taxed or insured as they only use them on the farm.

Chun Li · 19-05-2012 06:18PM

ball wrote: »

Why don't more people cycle home?
At least that way you're not putting anyone else at risk. You'll probably fall into a bush or something.
The worst case scenario is being knocked over by a car. But that's a lot better than crashing a car yourself, right?

Plus, you won't get your push-bike license taken from you!

Nah that's not worst case scenario, you may still destroy somebody elses life. What if you were the one that killed a drunken cyclist, living the rest of your days with that would be a living nightmare.

El Weirdo · 19-05-2012 06:19PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

It's hard to argue with the statistics
Living most of my life in rural Ireland I've never had a problem getting a taxi. Especially if you are just going out for a few drinks, then there really is no excuse to not book your taxi to go home before you even go out.

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/taxi/taxi-statistics/vehicle-licences-county-and-category-january-2012/

I would wager that the vast majority of those taxis are based in the larger towns in each county.

My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

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