My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

AhInFairness · 19-05-2012 09:47PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

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.

So don't drink. Go and have a coffee/tea/soft drink/water. Why is not drinking alcohol so beyond people's power of comprehension?

People are banging on about the social side of things and how these poor people are isolated due to the rural nature of where they live, the pub is the only social outlet blah blah....if that is the case then why can't they go to the pub and not drink alcohol? Seriously, explain it to me.

hondasam · 19-05-2012 09:49PM

AhInFairness wrote: »

So don't drink. Go and have a coffee/tea/soft drink/water. Why is not drinking alcohol so beyond people's power of comprehension?

People are banging on about the social side of things and how these poor people are isolated due to the rural nature of where they live, the pub is the only social outlet blah blah....if that is the case then why can't they go to the pub and not drink alcohol? Seriously, explain it to me.

It's really not that difficult to understand. Some people enjoy a chat and a few pints, without the few pints the chat is not as good.

galwayrush · 19-05-2012 09:50PM

Any drink driver is a wreckless bastard, end of...

AhInFairness · 19-05-2012 09:51PM

hondasam wrote: »

It's really not that difficult to understand. Some people enjoy a chat and a few pints, without the few pints the chat is not as good.

As someone who no longer drinks, that is complete bullshít.

If you need alcohol to have a good time in a social situation then you have a problem.

Helix · 19-05-2012 09:52PM

hondasam wrote: »

It's really not that difficult to understand. Some people enjoy a chat and a few pints, without the few pints the chat is not as good.

if the chat isnt as good without a few pints then it's poor company

Helix · 19-05-2012 09:53PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

Iparticularly when the publicans offer no facilities for storing overcoats etc.

jesus christ, have the locals not figured out that they can leave their coats on the back of their chair, or beside someone in a booth yet?

Fromthetrees · 19-05-2012 10:01PM

It's actually more dangerous to drive on country roads than on urban roads so maybe the drink driving laws should be even stricter for rural drivers. :P
Most people in cities factor in the cost of a taxi home anyway of at least a tenner (usually more). If there's four old codgers sitting there at the end of a Saturday night needing a lift home surely any rural taxi driver would be delighted to take 40 euro to drop them all home even if it takes him an hour,
problem solved,
yere all welcome.

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 10:09PM

I think its important to make the distinction between drink driving (which is still legal despite what people seem to think) to drunk driving (which is illegal).

Some people have said they would never drive if they have had a drink. Thats great, thats their choice. Do they also avoid driving the morning after drinking?

The legal blood alcohol limit has been reduced from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 20mg per 100ml of blood for professional drivers, learner drivers, newly qualified drivers, those driving tractors or cars with trailers.

Otherwise the limit is 50mg per 100ml of blood.

If I am out and have a vehicle I will never drink more than 2 pints. If I happen to have more I will leave the car and walk.

Not that long ago the anti drink driving campaigns slogan was two will do. I think that approach is perfectly sensible and should be rigorously enforced.

In 19 years of driving I have never been breathalysed. The government announce a zero tolerence to drink driving and then close Garda stations and cut Garda resources.

It would make more sense to set a drink driving limit at a higher level and enforce it fully.

Interestingly the lower 20mg limit applies if you do not have your driving licence on you when stopped.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 19-05-2012 10:13PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Not that long ago the anti drink driving campaigns slogan was two will do. I think that approach is perfectly sensible and should be rigorously enforced.

How could you seriously enforce this? The same amount of alcohol affects people in different ways. Some people are in no state to drive after 2 pints. You are on to something when you talk about better enforcement but it shouldn't be because of an increased limit.

monkeypants · 19-05-2012 10:14PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

the publicans offer no facilities for storing overcoats etc.

Please describe these 'facilities' as I'm not sure if I have them in my house.

lividduck · 19-05-2012 10:45PM

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.

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?

Anyone caught drink driving should be locked up, no exceptions, no exemptions, no excuses!

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 10:48PM

lividduck wrote: »

Anyone caught drink driving should be locked up, no exceptions, no exemptions, no excuses!

You mean driving over the prescribed legal drink driving limit of 50mg per 100ml of blood or driving with any trace of alcohol at all?

Milk & Honey · 19-05-2012 10:49PM

Helix wrote: »

jesus christ, have the locals not figured out that they can leave their coats on the back of their chair, or beside someone in a booth yet?

That's the problem. Many chairs are not suitable for coats. Drink gets spilled on them and they get stolen. People are just not going to the pubs at all. There is in fact no law forcing people to go to pubs.

hairyprincess · 19-05-2012 10:51PM

Milk & Honey wrote: »

That's the problem. Many chairs are not suitable for coats. Drink gets spilled on them and they get stolen. People are just not going to the pubs at all. There is in fact no law forcing people to go to pubs.

People aren't going to go to pubs because there is no fancy room to store their coats?

Seriously

Milk & Honey · 19-05-2012 10:52PM

AhInFairness wrote: »

So don't drink. Go and have a coffee/tea/soft drink/water. Why is not drinking alcohol so beyond people's power of comprehension?

.

I don't want to go to a pub for tea, coffee, soft drink, water at night. It would be bad enough if there were people in the pubs but there is hardly anyone.

the groutch · 19-05-2012 10:53PM

drink drive laws SAVE lives, and the OP seems to be clutching at straws.
anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking is showing a blatant disregard for the welfare of other road users, and deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law.

rab!dmonkey · 19-05-2012 11:03PM

M cebee wrote: »

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

small village with deserted country roads about 2 miles from my house.

about 3 miles again along quiet back roads.

Why would it be dangerous to cycle along these quiet roads? Maybe it would be safer without drunk drivers?

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 11:06PM

the groutch wrote: »

drink drive laws SAVE lives, and the OP seems to be clutching at straws.
anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking is showing a blatant disregard for the welfare of other road users, and deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law.

But one can still get behind the wheel of a car after drinking and it is perfectly legal. What is illegal is if you drink more than the 50mg blood alcohol limit allows.

ColeTrain · 19-05-2012 11:07PM

Where To wrote: »

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

It's not a case of just hopping into a taxi like the urban areas. In certain parts if you're lucky there will be a driver on that night who services the area. The problem is every person out, in a 10/20 mile radius without a lift is ringing him.
If you do manage to get a taxi then you're looking at high fare. Taxis in rural Ireland are unreliable, expensive and at times non existent.
Let's not pretend that it's a viable option.

lividduck · 19-05-2012 11:07PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

You mean driving over the prescribed legal drink driving limit of 50mg per 100ml of blood or driving with any trace of alcohol at all?

I mean in the legal sense! Lock them up and crush the vehicle.

questionmark? · 19-05-2012 11:09PM

hairyprincess wrote: »

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

Simple as.

hairyprincess wrote: »

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

Where To wrote: »

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

I don't condone drunk driving but the whole there are taxis is stupid for most of rural Ireland. Where my parents and my sister live there is no taxis for approx 15 miles or so although there is some cute whoors that will "give a lift" for a few bob once you give them a call.

djPSB · 19-05-2012 11:10PM

and then would bus drivers be allowed drink 4 times the legal limit??

argosy2006 · 19-05-2012 11:16PM

Solution is a car you can drink drive in,
http://cdn.electricpig.com.s3-external-3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/bubble-car-2.jpg

Double the limit

With a top speed of 30
Only allowed on rural roads

ResearchWill · 19-05-2012 11:21PM

SafeSurfer wrote: »

But one can still get behind the wheel of a car after drinking and it is perfectly legal. What is illegal is if you drink more than the 50mg blood alcohol limit allows.

Well yes and no. You are of course correct in saying it is illegal to drive if over a certain limit of drink is in your system even if your driving is perfect.

But it also illegal to be in control of a MPV while incapable of having proper controll due to an intoxicant which can be drink or drugs illegal or prescribed. All that must be proven is inability to have proper control and the presence of an intoxicant. So a person who gets giddy on a glass of wine could be in trouble.

fussyonion · 19-05-2012 11:21PM

There should be NO allowances made.

I lived in a place that wasn't near the local pub but we never drank and drove.
You think just because the roads are deserted and it's in the country that you won't kill someone or yourself?

I hate people trying to come up with ways to have their cake and eat it.
Drink and walk home or drive there and sip Coke-simple.

You ask any family who've had a relative die because of drink driving if they think your suggestion is a good one and see what they say.
Don't think it'll never happen to you because it very well could.

stovelid · 19-05-2012 11:25PM

Maybe publicans could buy a mini bus and get a local non-drinker to drive people home. People would pay a few quid that the driver keeps. The bus would pay for itself with increased custom and maybe, heaven forbid, in conjunction with cheaper drinks and promotions.

Might not be ideal but at least trying to come up with solutions is better than the usual Irish cop out of lobbying politicians and the public to change laws to suit vested business interests, often with histrionic emotional propaganda.

Paulie Gualtieri · 19-05-2012 11:30PM

don't agree with op but its a sad situation , i live in a very rural area , and if it wasnt for the small local pub , these oul lads wouldn't have any social interaction at all , and as for people saying maybe go the pub and drink non alcoholic beers , yeah that's ok for a young man or middle aged man , but the old stock wouldn't be able to understand that one , to them it would be like going to a steak house and eating rice cakes , and as for taxis? no taxis on the road mid week , and too busy on the weekend picking up young crowds heading to town, i genuinely feel sorry for these lonely people who can't socialize in there local , its unfortunate that there is no real solution to this problem.

SafeSurfer · 19-05-2012 11:31PM

stovelid wrote: »

Maybe publicans could buy a mini bus and get a local non-drinker to drive people home. People would pay a few quid that the driver keeps.

Might not be ideal but at least trying to come up with solutions is better than the usual Irish cop out of lobbying politicians and the public to change laws to suit vested business interests, often with histrionic emotional propaganda.

Well if I get the go ahead for the tractor drink driving legislation my next campaign will be for people over a certain age to be allowed to smoke in pubs again, because its unfair to make them go outside in the cold, they could catch their death. Only in rural areas of course. Pubs in big towns and cities have those fancy patio heaters and such.

Its the same principal really.

Smoke in a pub everyone you share the pub with is at risk from your smoke.

Drive drunkenly on a road everyone you share the road with is at risk from your vehicle.

lividduck · 19-05-2012 11:32PM

Paulie Gualtieri wrote: »

don't agree with op but its a sad situation , i live in a very rural area , and if it wasnt for the small local pub , these oul lads wouldn't have any social interaction at all , and as for people saying maybe go the pub and drink non alcoholic beers , yeah that's ok for a young man or middle aged man , but the old stock wouldn't be able to understand that one , to them it would be like going to a steak house and eating rice cakes , and as for taxis? no taxis on the road mid week , and too busy on the weekend picking up young crowds heading to town, i genuinely feel sorry for these lonely people who can't socialize in there local , its sad that there is no real solution to this problem.

So its ok to break the law because they are old? What other laws is ok for them to break? Can they rape because they are lonely?

Where To · 19-05-2012 11:35PM

questionmark? wrote: »

I don't condone drunk driving but the whole there are taxis is stupid for most of rural Ireland. Where my parents and my sister live there is no taxis for approx 15 miles or so although there is some cute whoors that will "give a lift" for a few bob once you give them a call.

I can have 14 different companies (some are companies, some are single operators) comprising 50+ cars at my front door within 10 minutes and I live in the one of the most rural and disadvantaged parts of the country.

Lack of taxis or hackneys is a myth, country areas are generally better served than urban areas. Better service and value too;)

My solution to drink driving laws and rural isolation.

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