My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

mikemac1 · 19-05-2012 08:05PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

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?

Have you ever driven a tractor?
A modern tractor with power steering has very sensitive steering, you'd put a wheel into the ditch easily all the while you're bouncing around

And the brakes are far worse then a cars, it's just impossible to stop in the same distance

A car is easier to drive, even after a few pints

BornToKill · 19-05-2012 08:06PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

I was driving home from the pub last night after having a couple of pints while waiting for a chinese.

Try this:

Order the chinese delivered.
Have the couple of pints.
Get a lift home with the delivery guy; he's going there anyway.

Simples.

jaffacakesyum · 19-05-2012 08:10PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

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.

If you're going to claim something is "statistically safer" then at least provide made up statistics or something :pac:

Seriously though, I don't think walking home at the side of the road wearing a high-vis jacket is more dangerous then drink driving??!! Surely I'm not the only one who thinks this

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?

With all due respect, the idea is a stupid one. You want to raise the drink limit for a heavier, arguably more dangerous piece of machinary because it goes slower? I don't care if it only goes at 30mph. If there's a drunk behind the wheel it could cause some serious damage.

Kevin Irving wrote: »

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

I used to feel this way and I admit I have cycled home after a few pints before (never drunk but nonetheless, I have done it). But if you think about it, drunk cycling could cause just as much damage as drunk driving. If you cycle dangerously, not taking into account observation etc. as you normally would you could cause a serious car accident.

johndaman66 · 19-05-2012 08:10PM

It would seem that the OP is almost implying that car drivers from rural areas have automatic access to tractors. This is very much not the case unfortunately.

Helix · 19-05-2012 08:11PM

here's an idea of how to solve the drink driving problem... DONT FCUKING DRINK IF YOU'RE DRIVING

19-05-2012 08:11PM

Ride a bike, if you're not that fit get an electrically assised one!

As long as you don't drink in excess, you'll be perfectly OK to ride a bike, the greatest risk would be being run into by your mate who drinks and drives home.

Markcheese · 19-05-2012 08:15PM

Used to live within walking distance of a small village on a v.quiet road. I couldn't walk to the pub fri/sat evenings cos of the pissed drivers using the back road as a rat run to avoid the Gardai..
There's usually a local mini bus, the price of a pint should get most people home, a little organisation, or 1 lad in 5 being designated driver... Pub prob has to organise it...

sh1tstirrer · 19-05-2012 08:19PM

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?

You obviously weren't around or old enough to know that it was common practice in the eighties and before. It was a form of lunacy but was common practice back then.

jaffacakesyum · 19-05-2012 08:21PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

You obviously weren't around or old enough to know that it was common practice in the eighties and before. It was a form of lunacy but was common practice back then.

What's your point?

I know it was common practice years ago. It's still stupid and selfish.

Wildlife Actor · 19-05-2012 08:21PM

Why not have a very low limit (glass of wine/half pint of beer) for normal driving but a higher one (say 2/3 pints) provided you drive under 20mph/30kmph and without passengers?

You won't kill anyone at that speed (except yourself if you drive over a cliff) and while enforcement is a little bit more inconvenient, it just means that they guards have to have hairdryers at their checkpoints. If the government ever had the guts to face up to car manufacturers, they could easily have inbuilt speed recorders that would remove the need even for the hairdryers.

It's easy to say "no drink driving" in absolute terms, and to say that that slogan is too simplistic is neither to disrespect those who have been killed/injured by drunken drivers nor to insult their families. Absolute rules are rare and generally not a good idea. Take speed. Speed is a massive factor in road deaths and injuries (presumably greater than drink though I don't have the stats) but we don't reduce all speed limits to 50kmph. There are other factors to consider.

In the current discussion one of those factors is that elderly people in rural areas often don't have any social outlet other than the pub. Maybe they should but often they simply don't (and maybe we all should leave three hours earlier and drive from Dublin to Cork at 50kmph but we don't). And as regards taxis, a taxi is not just a matter of cost for pensioners (and remember a rural trip will always be longer and more expensive). It's also availability. You're often waiting up to 45 mins as the taxi driver or two will have a queue.

mikemac1 · 19-05-2012 08:21PM

Ah the rural hackney

May take an hour to get to you and it's pretty certain you'll be sharing so you do a lap of the area

Driver loads up the fares but still charges you taxi prices

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

You obviously weren't around or old enough to know that it was common practice in the eighties and before. It was a form of lunacy but was common practice back then.

Don't need to go that far back

Common practice in the nineties too

sh1tstirrer · 19-05-2012 08:22PM

Helix wrote: »

here's an idea of how to solve the drink driving problem... DONT FCUKING DRINK IF YOU'RE DRIVING

Unless it doesn't have alcohol in it Sherlock.

christmas2012 · 19-05-2012 08:23PM

Its dangerous enough driving without having your senses dulled with drink better to be aware so you can handle any hazards coming your way or obstructions in the road

hondasam · 19-05-2012 08:23PM

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

I know it was common practice years ago. It's still stupid and selfish.

Speeding is also stupid but it doesn't stop us doing it.

forfuxsake · 19-05-2012 08:27PM

SouthTippBass wrote: »

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

There are over 2000 people in prison in Poland for this offence. Apparently it cause a lot of fatal accidents. Cars swerve to avoid you and hit other cars

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/poland-says-okay-to-jailing-drink-cyclists-21213/

jaffacakesyum · 19-05-2012 08:28PM

hondasam wrote: »

Speeding is also stupid but it doesn't stop us doing it.

Yep, having lost a friend to a boyracer speeding 100km/hr on a 50km/hr road, I know just how stupid speeding is.

Sorry, I just really detest people who speed or drink drive. And there's no exceptions for me for that. It's not a case of "ah but me personally if i have 3 or 4 pints I'm grand, others wouldn't be able to drive with that in them but I can" or "ah but I'm a good driver and I only go 20 or 30km/hr over the limit". I don't care. Laws are there for a reason. When they're broken, it's peoples lives at risk.

Chuck Stone · 19-05-2012 08:32PM

What's the law on mobility scooters?

Can you be smashed and drive them?

forfuxsake · 19-05-2012 08:33PM

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Yep, having lost a friend to a boyracer speeding on a 100km/hr on a 50km/hr road, I know just how stupid speeding is.

Sorry, I just really detest people who speed or drink drive. And there's no exceptions for me for that. It's not a case of "ah but me personally if i have 3 or 4 pints I'm grand, others wouldn't be able to drive with that in them but I can" or "ah but I'm a good driver and I only go 20 or 30km/hr over the limit". I don't care. Laws are there for a reason. When they're broken, it's peoples lives at risk.

yup. Every fúcker spews the same vomit 'I drive better after a few lines of charles and a bottle of jack d'

People forget the face that nobody has had their first crash until they have their first crash.

AhInFairness · 19-05-2012 08:36PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

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.

So why can't you walk? If the roads are deserted and its only two miles why do you need to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol?

We have a serious f*cking problem with alcohol in this country. The "poor aul lads in the country" argument makes me sick. The fact that you live in a rural area does nto entitle you to drink and drive. If the local pub wants to keep their business they can provide transport.

People who condone drink driving in any capacity are scumbags.

19-05-2012 08:39PM

Kevin Irving wrote: »

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

Depends on how much you've drunk!
But if you're too pissed to ride a bike, chances are you wouldn't be able to walk in a straight line either, so you're screwed both ways.

19-05-2012 08:40PM

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote: »

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.

They're classed as motor vehicles and you'll get done!

Aka Ishur · 19-05-2012 08:46PM

Love nor Money wrote: »

Why not have a very low limit (glass of wine/half pint of beer) for normal driving but a higher one (say 2/3 pints) provided you drive under 20mph/30kmph and without passengers?

Cool if you stand there and let me hit you at 30kph i'll fund your campaign to get the law changed.

Capt'n Midnight · 19-05-2012 09:28PM

The real problem is ribbon development. If all the houses/pubs were in the village then no one would have to drive.

Pubs could run a B&B

or setup a local drunk tank

People could drink at home

take it in turns to be the designated driver

stay with friends / relations in town

Back in the day you didn't need a google car, stagger out of the pub and fall on your ass, and get taken home - m'asal beag dubh style.

Milk & Honey · 19-05-2012 09:28PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

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

How can a person sitting at home when they want to go to the pub be happy? How can his friends in the pub who are missing his company be happy? The only people who are happy are the taxi drivers and the killjoys.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 19-05-2012 09:32PM

It's completely unworkable to have one drink driving rule for the poor oul fellas and another for the rest. Drink driving has become socially intolerable over the last number of years and hopefully it continues that way.

I sympathise with the fact that a lot of elderly people in rural Ireland are lonely but allowing them leeway to perform a dangerous act isn't the answer.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 19-05-2012 09:33PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

How can a person sitting at home when they want to go to the pub be happy? How can his friends in the pub who are missing his company be happy? The only people who are happy are the taxi drivers and the killjoys.

You can't have it every way. Life isn't fair.

Helix · 19-05-2012 09:34PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

The only people who are happy are the taxi drivers and the killjoys.

killjoys? people who dont want morons drinking and driving are killjoys? seriously?

Helix · 19-05-2012 09:34PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

How can a person sitting at home when they want to go to the pub be happy? How can his friends in the pub who are missing his company be happy?

why can't they drive to and from the pub and not bloody well drink if they want to be there that badly??

Milk & Honey · 19-05-2012 09:36PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

The real problem is ribbon development. If all the houses/pubs were in the village then no one would have to drive.

Pubs could run a B&B

or setup a local drunk tank

People could drink at home

take it in turns to be the designated driver

stay with friends / relations in town

Back in the day you didn't need a google car, stagger out of the pub and fall on your ass, and get taken home - m'asal beag dubh style.

I live in an area where there are three pubs and two hotels within a 15 minute walk of the vast majority of the houses in the area. People won't walk to the pubs. Hardly any locals drink in the pubs or the hotels. Proximity to the pub is not the problem. people are just not comfortable walking to and from pubs at night, particularly when the publicans offer no facilities for storing overcoats etc.

christmas2012 · 19-05-2012 09:38PM

better to have a designated driver in these situations,or have the pub send for a taxi

My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

Comments