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My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

24567

Comments

  • #32
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    I fail to see why the drink drive rules should be any different for people living in country areas compared to those living in urban areas.

    If I go drinking in the local town at home, I still have to travel the 4 or 5 miles to my local village along a national road, go through the village, and then travel the couple of miles down the rural country road. Does that mean I can park my car in the village and only get the taxi driver to drive me just as far as there to save me an extra few quid?

    Along that same of stretch of rural road, a man had died driving his tractor home after he went down an embankment after a few drinks.

    Personally I wont even drive after one pint, If I go out weather it be at home, or where I live during the working week I'm bringing money for the taxi with me or staying at a friends or family house.


  • #33
    ch750536
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,736 ✭✭✭ch750536


    hairyprincess wrote: »
    If you can afford to go out drinking then you can afford a taxi home.

    Simple as.

    What's a taxi?


  • #34
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    El Weirdo wrote: »
    I would wager that the vast majority of those taxis are based in the larger towns in each county.

    If people chose to live in more isolated areas, they can't expect the same services and facilities as more populated areas. This is the problem with once-off houses and farms in rural Ireland, people expect the services of a more urban area to be provided in places where its just not viable economically or socially to do so.

    Both my parents come from extremely rural areas and made a conscious decision to raise their family in a large city because they didn't like how limited life can be in rural areas.


  • #35
    El Weirdo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,651 ✭✭✭✭El Weirdo


    lazygal wrote: »
    If people chose to live in more isolated areas, they can't expect the same services and facilities as more populated areas.
    I never said that they should.

    I was just pointing out that getting a taxi home isn't always a viable option.


  • #36
    Logical Fallacy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭Logical Fallacy


    hairyprincess wrote: »
    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

    Where I grew up you wouldn't, and still can't, find a taxi for about 20 miles.

    Needless to say there is a pub though.


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  • #37
    SafeSurfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,182 ✭✭✭SafeSurfer


    jaffacakesyum wrote: »
    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? :confused:

    Drink driving is a reality every night of the week all over the country. Probably even more so given the closure of rural Garda stations.

    As for walking home along unlit winding country roads even if you are wearing a high vis jacket I am convinced that driving after a couple of pints is statistically safer.

    The idea of a higher drink driving limit for tractors, maybe below a certain engine size is because they can only travel at about 30 kmph.

    Tractors are already classified differently than cars for example, 16 year olds can drive tractors. Why not acknowledge the fact that the chances of being involved in an accident in a vehicle with a much lower maximum speed is less than that for a standard car.

    When was the last time somebody was killed driving a tractor after a couple of pints?

    Multo autem ad rem magis pertinet quallis tibi vide aris quam allis



  • #38
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    El Weirdo wrote: »
    I never said that they should.

    I was just pointing out that getting a taxi home isn't always a viable option.

    So they need to accept when going out, their choices are more limited, i.e. have an alcoholic drink and not drive home, with a massive wait for a taxi or a lift from a non drinking driver, or not drink and drive home. One's location doesn't merit different treatment under the drink driving laws.


  • #39
    SafeSurfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,182 ✭✭✭SafeSurfer


    lazygal wrote: »
    If people chose to live in more isolated areas, they can't expect the same services and facilities as more populated areas. This is the problem with once-off houses and farms in rural Ireland, people expect the services of a more urban area to be provided in places where its just not viable economically or socially to do so.

    Both my parents come from extremely rural areas and made a conscious decision to raise their family in a large city because they didn't like how limited life can be in rural areas.

    Yet they make the exact same individual contribution, by way of taxes to the provision of those services which they do not enjoy.

    Multo autem ad rem magis pertinet quallis tibi vide aris quam allis



  • #40
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    lazygal wrote: »
    When was the last time somebody was killed driving a tractor after a couple of pints?

    You obvously didn't read my post only 5 before you made this one
    Along that same of stretch of rural road, a man had died driving his tractor home after he went down an embankment after a few drinks.


  • #41
    Duckworth_Luas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,746 ✭✭✭Duckworth_Luas


    I grew up working in a rural pub, and I mean rural. At the end of the night the owner would drive home any elderly bachelors etc that had no transport. He felt it was the least he could do for his loyal customers.

    A few years back he sold the pub. The new owner decided that people should make their own way home. The customers who were so loyal to the previous owner deserted the new. The pub is now closed.

    My point is that rural pub owners should invest in minibuses and ferry their customers home after closing. It's win win!


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  • #42
    El Weirdo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,651 ✭✭✭✭El Weirdo


    lazygal wrote: »
    So they need to accept when going out, their choices are more limited, i.e. have an alcoholic drink and not drive home, with a massive wait for a taxi or a lift from a non drinking driver, or not drink and drive home. One's location doesn't merit different treatment under the drink driving laws.
    Again, please point out where I have said any different in this thread.

    You seem to be reading something that I'm not typing.


  • #43
    SafeSurfer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,182 ✭✭✭SafeSurfer


    Red21 wrote: »
    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.

    I would agree that there are a large number of untaxed tractors in the country but I would say the vast majority are insured because most are driven on the road as well as on farm.

    Multo autem ad rem magis pertinet quallis tibi vide aris quam allis



  • #44
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    (Edit: Quoting random people..)
    SafeSurfer wrote: »
    When was the last time somebody was killed driving a tractor after a couple of pints?

    A tractor is a dangerous piece of heavy machinery. You're hoping that there's no one else around this person and that there isn't any other traffic. You're hoping they don't have too much as well. A tractor would destroy a small car or easily go through a wall in a rural area. I wouldn't like to see a tractor go into a house along the way.
    Modern tractors can go a lot faster than 30mph. Try 50. You want someone with drink on them in a God damn tractor at 50 driving toward you? I hope this isn't what's being put forward.
    A tractor is no where near as safe to drive as a piddling little car.


  • #45
    ResearchWill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭ResearchWill


    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!

    This was covered by section 51 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 now covered here http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2010/en/act/pub/0025/sec0006.html#sec6


  • #46
    .same.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 160 ✭✭.same.


    lazygal wrote: »
    Both my parents come from extremely rural areas and made a conscious decision to raise their family in a large city because they didn't like how limited life can be in rural areas.

    Had they known how you'd turn out, they probably woulda stayed in the bog.


  • #47
    Where To
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭Where To


    The problem isn't lack of taxis, rural Ireland is excellently serviced by taxis and hackneys.

    The problem is people begrudge paying someone to take them home after spending an extortionate amount drinking themselves to oblivion.


  • #48
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,372 ✭✭✭kirving


    A bit ridiculous that drink cycling is illegal, not much of a chance of injuring anyone but yourself.


  • #49
    Kolido
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,902 ✭✭✭✭Kolido


    There really is no justification for drink driving. I don't know what the current punishment is for getting caught is but it should be immediate disqualification for a number of years imo. Everyone in the country is under the same law so it shouldn't be any different whether it's rural or not, they are still public roads afaik.
    If you want a different limit for driving tractors, does that mean you can drive through a city also with more drink taken?


  • #50
    ResearchWill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭ResearchWill


    Kolido wrote: »
    There really is no justification for drink driving. I don't know what the current punishment is for getting caught is but it should be immediate disqualification for a number of years imo. Everyone in the country is under the same law so it shouldn't be any different whether it's rural or not, they are still public roads afaik.
    If you want a different limit for driving tractors, does that mean you can drive through a city also with more drink taken?

    The current punishment for drink driving on a first offence is a mandatory disquilification for between 6 months and 3 years depending on the reading, if it is simple drink or drug driving ar refusal to give sample it's 4 years.

    For the new lower levels you can take a fixed penalty notice of a shorter ban that being 6 months and points and fine.

    While jail time is possible it would not normally be given unless its a third offence or more.


  • #51
    girl in the striped socks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 653 ✭✭✭girl in the striped socks


    .same. wrote: »
    lazygal wrote: »
    Both my parents come from extremely rural areas and made a conscious decision to raise their family in a large city because they didn't like how limited life can be in rural areas.

    Had they known how you'd turn out, they probably woulda stayed in the bog.
    Wtf???


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  • #52
    later12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,298 ✭✭✭✭later12


    lazygal wrote: »
    If people chose to live in more isolated areas, they can't expect the same services and facilities as more populated areas.
    Oh for goodness sake. Are you eleven? These people are typically bachelor farmers in their sixties and seventies. They have been around a lot longer than you. Moving to large urban centres to take toilet paper degrees was not always a viable option for young Irish people; many of these men wouldn't even have had free secondary school education open to them.


  • #53
    Milk & Honey
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭Milk & Honey


    hairyprincess wrote: »
    If you can afford to go out drinking then you can afford a taxi home.

    Simple as.

    Do you know the price of drink? After buying a few pints very few people would have the money left for a taxi. Especially if they go out drinking a few nights a week. People generally have a choice. They can pay the publican or the taxi driver but not both.


  • #54
    DonkeyStyle \o/
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,144 ✭✭✭DonkeyStyle \o/


    I'd say use golf carts instead, hazard lights on the front and back, large weatherproof pillows all around it like a bumper car.
    It'd never work in this country though, the cart would fall into a pot-hole and never be seen again.


  • #55
    hondasam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,418 ✭✭✭✭hondasam


    SafeSurfer wrote: »

    What do you think?

    I feel sorry for people in this situation but drink driving is a big no for everyone.
    I think pub owners should arrange something for their customers and I know some who do especially at Christmas.
    My own local is ten miles from the nearest town and you can get a taxi from there but it would make it a very expensive night and not worth it for a few pints.


  • #56
    hairyprincess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭hairyprincess


    Milk & Honey wrote: »
    Do you know the price of drink? After buying a few pints very few people would have the money left for a taxi. Especially if they go out drinking a few nights a week. People generally have a choice. They can pay the publican or the taxi driver but not both.

    Well lets look at the choices shall we,
    (a) don't go out,

    (b) sacrifice one of the few nights a week that they go out so they will have the money,

    (c) drink less, or not at all.

    If a member of your family was killed by a drunk driver would you take the fact that they could afford to go to the pub and drink but they couldn't afford a taxi as an excuse? Would you really be ok with that?

    Going to the pub is not a necessity. Getting your priorities right and not putting peoples lives at risk is.


  • #57
    Rothko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,016 ✭✭✭✭Rothko


    MadYaker wrote: »
    Because there are no taxis...

    Yes, there are. I live in a rural area and I often use a taxi.


  • #58
    Milk & Honey
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭Milk & Honey


    hairyprincess wrote: »

    (b) sacrifice one of the few nights a week that they go out so they will have the money,



    .

    Then the person can't afford to drink, so there goes your argument.


  • #59
    hairyprincess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭hairyprincess


    Milk & Honey wrote: »
    Then the person can't afford to drink, so there goes your argument.

    If they refrain from going out one of the nights in the week that they go out they will have the money to drink and get a taxi the other nights. Everybody is happy :)


  • #60
    SouthTippBass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,286 ✭✭✭SouthTippBass


    I cycle to and from the pub and shall continue to do so. I dont see any harm in it.


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  • #61
    Micky Dolenz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    Drink more and operate heavy machinery.

    Makes perfect sense.


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