Drink Driving

Valetta · 19-12-2014 09:53PM

Dont call me Shirley wrote: »

If you were driving slowly enough I think it would be ok. But if everyone did it i suppose it would have a knock-on effect on traffic in built up areas.

For the record, I never drink and drive. I did it once or twice in my younger days and actually feel pretty guilty about it because I was too drunk.

I would like to see some scientific tests done comparing the impact of alcohol at different speeds. You know those figures they make you learn for the driving test where they break down how long it takes you to stop at different speeds.

I don't have those figures to hand but the pattern is something like this. At thirty mph it takes 1 second for you to react to a situation and apply the brakes. It then takes the car two seconds to stop.

At forty mph it takes 1 second for you to react and four seconds for the car to stop.

At sixty mph it takes 1 second for you to react and eight seconds for the car to stop.

Let's say that having three pints slows your reaction time by a factor of two. This would allow that you could still bring your car to a stop more quickly with alcohol taken at forty mph than you would sober at the speed limit.

Of course being outright drunk is still extremely dangerous because your reaction speed would decrease significantly and your judgement in other areas of driving would suffer.

But i think that if the proper safety studies backed it up I think there should be scope for an inbetween alcohol limit where you would have to drive at a percentage below the speed limit.

A special speed limit for drink drivers!

Heard it all now.

How about...... Don't drink and drive.

Dont call me Shirley · 19-12-2014 10:08PM

Valetta wrote: »

A special speed limit for drink drivers!

Heard it all now.

How about...... Don't drink and drive.

If it was tested and found to be safe I'd have no problem with it.

I don't drink and drive. On the rare enough occasion's I drink I generally get way too blotto to be anywhere near capable of operating my phone let alone a car.

But I do think it's a pity that country pubs are closing because they were a great outlet for people that can otherwise become isolated.

If a way could be found to allow people to have a few drinks and drive safely home i think it would be great for the country. (The sooner google get their self-driving cars into production the better)

sh1tstirrer · 20-12-2014 02:22PM

Tail Docker wrote: »

yeah, one who's sister and all her family got mashed into more than a year in hospital when a drunk driver came around the bend on the wrong side of the road and ploughed into them head-on. The Muppet. And he walked away. They didn't.

So the drunk driver put you and the rest of your family in hospital for 1 year?

somuj · 20-12-2014 10:04PM

When I was in oz nearly every second person drove with drink on them. Getting done for drink driving wasn't even frowned on by most people.

Valetta · 20-12-2014 10:25PM

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

So the drunk driver put you and the rest of your family in hospital for 1 year?

Not sure if that's a genuine question, or a dig.

Either way,it's in very bad taste.

Tail Docker · 20-12-2014 11:00PM

Valetta wrote: »

Not sure if that's a genuine question, or a dig.

Either way,it's in very bad taste.

Well, he is a sh1tstirrer.

Bongalongherb · 20-12-2014 11:13PM

Ahh the old days of drink driving in the summer on the island of Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG0oBPtyNb0

LoganRice · 20-12-2014 11:35PM

no it is a bad form

sh1tstirrer · 23-12-2014 11:21AM

Valetta wrote: »

Not sure if that's a genuine question, or a dig.

Either way,it's in very bad taste.

It's a genuine question, how is it bad taste?h

Shiraz 4.99 · 23-12-2014 12:23PM

Years ago used be the done thing, everybody did it down our way in the midlands.

I had friends & relations who got done for it & the mandatory one year ban which could be appealed after 6 months back then.
Thing was they all continued driving as not having an income was a bigger penalty than being caught a 2nd time.
They were cute enough to only travel during rush hour so they were never caught out.

Then slowly the tide changed & you became a social pariah for doing it. I had to actively hide the fact I would still do it the odd time & lie about taking a taxi.

I could make the nonsense argument that I'm fine with 5 or 6 pints in me & it's the ones who cause accidents that give the rest of us a bad name but I'd be shot down for that.

I shouldn't do it but I put myself in social situations where there is no other option.

looking_around · 23-12-2014 12:37PM

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

Years ago used be the done thing, everybody did it down our way in the midlands.

I had friends & relations who got done for it & the mandatory one year ban which could be appealed after 6 months back then.
Thing was they all continued driving as not having an income was a bigger penalty than being caught a 2nd time.
They were cute enough to only travel during rush hour so they were never caught out.

Then slowly the tide changed & you became a social pariah for doing it. I had to actively hide the fact I would still do it the odd time & lie about taking a taxi.

I could make the nonsense argument that I'm fine with 5 or 6 pints in me & it's the ones who cause accidents that give the rest of us a bad name but I'd be shot down for that.

I shouldn't do it but I put myself in social situations where there is no other option.

not drinking, isn't an option now?

RollieFingers · 23-12-2014 12:44PM

nilsonmickey wrote: »

I do it once in a while. 5 or 6 pints tops. Theres no busses Home and a taxi costs 20 euro

Hopefully no fatalaties on our roads over christmas, if there is to be, however, I hope it's a drink driving gob****e like yourself!

Rubberchikken · 23-12-2014 12:47PM

Never.
Have never done it. Never would. Even if it wasn't illegal.

OldNotWIse · 23-12-2014 12:49PM

Would be career suicide. Not to mention possibly just suicide! And as another poster pointed out, there's little appeal in just drinking one. Sure you're only teasing yourself then

The Peanut · 23-12-2014 12:50PM

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

Years ago used be the done thing, everybody did it down our way in the midlands.

I had friends & relations who got done for it & the mandatory one year ban which could be appealed after 6 months back then.
Thing was they all continued driving as not having an income was a bigger penalty than being caught a 2nd time.
They were cute enough to only travel during rush hour so they were never caught out.

Then slowly the tide changed & you became a social pariah for doing it. I had to actively hide the fact I would still do it the odd time & lie about taking a taxi.

I could make the nonsense argument that I'm fine with 5 or 6 pints in me & it's the ones who cause accidents that give the rest of us a bad name but I'd be shot down for that.

I shouldn't do it but I put myself in social situations where there is no other option.

Change your username and you'll have less hassle.;)

OldNotWIse · 23-12-2014 12:53PM

Dont call me Shirley wrote: »

If it was tested and found to be safe I'd have no problem with it.

I don't drink and drive. On the rare enough occasion's I drink I generally get way too blotto to be anywhere near capable of operating my phone let alone a car.

But I do think it's a pity that country pubs are closing because they were a great outlet for people that can otherwise become isolated.

If a way could be found to allow people to have a few drinks and drive safely home i think it would be great for the country. (The sooner google get their self-driving cars into production the better)

Give them bumper cars and turn the whole place into a bumper car arena. Just make sure to have the cars disabled if they go outside a designated area. It's ok if they want to kill themselves but not other road users.

The Peanut · 23-12-2014 12:57PM

Dont call me Shirley wrote: »

But I do think it's a pity that country pubs are closing because they were a great outlet for people that can otherwise become isolated.

If a way could be found to allow people to have a few drinks and drive safely home i think it would be great for the country. (The sooner google get their self-driving cars into production the better)

People in rural areas need to work together or with the publicans to organise options home. Down our way, members of the different publicans' families drive the customers home. Drinkers driving home is not, and should not be, an option.

Dravokivich · 23-12-2014 12:57PM

I've known people who've done it. Most have regretted it immediately after, acknowledging how foolish it was, along with accepting being chastised by everyone else because they did it.

A few didn't really seem to bothered. One, as it apparently happens a lot where they are from (not Kerry). The other was only put out by being banned from driving as a result of being caught a few times.

I find it bewildering that the latter group didn't really seem to care about other people. If you are driving a car, you a responsible for any one also in the car, along with everyone else you share the road with. Unfortunately this isn't something I feel solely in regards to drink driving, but all manners of wreckless, careless and feckless driving.

bb1234567 · 23-12-2014 01:25PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

Have you ever done it?

Do you think it's ok?

Having recently started driving, I can now understand the temptation to do it. It's very easy to find yourself having drunk a little bit, and being left with options like having to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi, and maybe the hassle of having to pick up your car the next day.

In those situations I think about driving, and feel for a second like I could do it.
But then I think about the fact that I know I still have some thinks to learn and can still make mistakes as a new driver, and adding alcohol doesn't help. Even if I feel like I can drive, I know my judgement is being affected by the alcohol, and my reactions won't be so good.
And it's simply too easy to cause some serious harm with such a dangerous machine, so I don't think I'll ever do it. It's not worth the risk.
But I've been surprised by the number of people who are not bothered about driving after a drink or two, so I'm curious about the general consensus on the issue.

Its never even slightly ok, it is the most selfish thing you can do and I would never forgive anyone for doing it. Dont make other people pay with their lives for your stupidity.

The Masculinist · 23-12-2014 05:14PM

Jumboman wrote: »

You should be allowed to drink one or two pints before your over the limit.

I have driven when I was tired in which I was in a worse state than if I drank 8 pints yet that is perfectly legal.

Your blood alcohol level will probably be below the limit after one or two pints, particularly if you have been in the put for 1-2 hours.

Chancer3001 · 25-12-2014 06:20PM

I think the limit is too low too.

Should be roughly 3 pints

Bruthal · 25-12-2014 06:24PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

People who drink and drive are muppets.

A very high percentage of people are muppets sometime.

Wompa1 · 25-12-2014 06:24PM

Chancer3001 wrote: »

I think the limit is too low too.

Should be roughly 3 pints

nah. It should be zero.

Bruthal · 25-12-2014 06:27PM

Jumboman wrote: »

You should be allowed to drink one or two pints before your over the limit.

I have driven when I was tired in which I was in a worse state than if I drank 8 pints yet that is perfectly legal.

Yea but drinking is completely avoidable. I'm sure many would be better drivers after 5 or 6 pints than others are with none.

But voluntarily drinking reduces your competence no matter how great or bad it is to start with.

Bruthal · 25-12-2014 06:28PM

Wompa1 wrote: »

nah. It should be zero.

I don't think it should be zero. Otherwise might be penalty points for fresh breath etc.

end of the road · 25-12-2014 06:30PM

Wompa1 wrote: »

nah. It should be zero.

no it shouldn't. it can't be done. to many medications and other necessary things contain alcohol. so a 0 limit is not worth the fall out or even the cost. back in the old days the car knew its way home, now days with to much traffic on the road that isn't an option but a 0 limit is not something i want my taxes wasted on enforcing.

alan partridge aha · 25-12-2014 07:04PM

We may go back to the horse and car like Michlin in The Quiet Man.
https://varchitectthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/horse-cart-car.jpg

genericguy · 25-12-2014 11:03PM

Chancer3001 wrote: »

I think the limit is too low too.

Should be roughly 3 pints

Should be 3 pints because it suits you? Sorry but I hope someone has three pints and hits your child.

end of the road · 25-12-2014 11:09PM

genericguy wrote: »

Should be 3 pints because it suits you? Sorry but I hope someone has three pints and hits your child.

thats a disgusting thing to say. obviously you are someone with no morals

obplayer · 25-12-2014 11:14PM

genericguy wrote: »

Should be 3 pints because it suits you? Sorry but I hope someone has three pints and hits your child.

And Merry Christmas to you too.

Drink Driving

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