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Hair of the dog!

The increase in drink driving problems is because there aren't now enough traffic police on the roads. But noooo, this silly government just creates a new law instead of enforcing the existing one!
 
Also I believe we won't actually be in line with other European countries as apparently a little over the limit is 3 points, you have to go some way before a ban. So I'm told anyway.

Personally I take the view that it isn't worth risking my licence so I don't take the chance. If I drink any amount over a pint of shandy I don't drive.
 
Though I feel that bringing the legal limit down might be a good thing, I also think that they will have trouble enforcing it.

When drink-driving was first banned, the "general publics'" attitude if you were caught was "oh, unlucky...". Alot of stops later, the prevailing attitude became "don't drink&drive - you WILL be stopped". Due to the lack of controls, I feel the attitude now is falling back into the "unlucky you if you are stopped, but you can always try your luck..."

Lowering the legal alcohol limit and raising the stakes is a fairly effective way to deter the "casual gamblers" from taking the risk - the stakes are just too high (as R2e shows).

The problem rises when you have the persisitent offenders - if you don't check often enough, who will stop them?

Michele

p.s. give me a ring when Gatso's start doing breath-tests...
 
I think it's a good thing too.
 
Swiss Toni said:
Good thing too.
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Don't get me wrong I am not against lowering the limit but a number of people who are:) genuinely trying to obey the law:) about driving under the influence may well get caught out through ignorance of how long it takes for alcohol to clear their system.:eek: It happens now, but with the lower limit its probably going to happen more. :(
 
grober said:
Don't get me wrong I am not against lowering the limit but a number of people who are:) genuinely trying to obey the law:) about driving under the influence may well get caught out through ignorance of how long it takes for alcohol to clear their system.:eek: It happens now, but with the lower limit its probably going to happen more. :(
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But ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law.
 
Exactly my point. I was just trying to distinguish one group who are genuinely trying to obey the law and might well be mortified to find they were guilty as charged and the irresponsible majority who really don't give a damn. Both are guilty under the law and will lose their licence as a result. I bet lots of us from time to time have broken laws without knowing it. We only become "aware" of our "crime against society" if we are caught. I walked out of a shop recently and only once outside in the street realised I hadn't paid for the goods I was carrying. :eek: I immediately returned to the shop and paid for them much to the surprise of the assistant at the till. Had I been apprehended by a shop member of staff I could have been charged with shoplifting since technically I was guilty.:crazy: Does that make me a thief? Hopefully not. ;)
 
But I don't see that as being any different from now. The limit is what the limit is and if you are over the limit no matter when you did the drinking you are breaking the law. I know it's difficult and it is difficult to know if you under the limit or not, but you can buy testers if you want that extra assurance.
 
If the lower limit comes in then I guess sales of these testers will markedly increase which hopefully will help the situation as folks become more aware of this potential risk to their licence.
 
grober said:
If the lower limit comes in then I guess sales of these testers will markedly increase which hopefully will help the situation as folks become more aware of this potential risk to their licence.
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Which has to be better all round as people drive when they are safe to do so ;)
 
This might be controversial, but I believe there is a definite difference between catching someone a few milligrams over the legal limit the morning after the night before, and someone caught several times over the limit driving home the same night.

We've been conditioned to think 'zero tolerance' on drink driving, but introducing a tiered system so that a hapless motorist who is unaware he's still got alcohol is his system on the way to work the following morning surely doesn't deserve the same punishment as someone who knowingly drives home from the pub after 8 pints of Stella.

There is a gradual system of fines and punishments for speeding offences - surely one could be introduced for this?
 
One thing that bugs me slightly about the DD limit - how do you KNOW you are / are not breaking the law? Speed - easy - look at speedo. Parking - read signs. etc etc.

With DD - what is the limit? A big bloke, is two / three maybe even four pints of a weaker beer. A skinny girl, one small glass of wine is over the limit.

OK - how about this - a DD limit regulated breathalizer box in every pub? - but then you 'pass' this, and 'fail' the real test - can you sue the box mfr?

I agree there has to be a limit. I agree that it should be enforced. I just disagree with the system.

I also admit, many years ago, I was 'done' for being 1 point over the limit. 18 month ban, and £xxxx fine as a student. The nearest police station was 5 miles away (harldy walkable, in case anyone suggests walking to the station to be tested before driving). I now do not D&D.... unsurprisingly.
 
guydewdney said:
1 point over the limit. 18 month ban, and £xxxx fine as a student.
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That seems out of the norm,

In this modern age I would suggest if you go out drinking, then don't drive. Not even a pint of shandy. Have a designated driver or use a taxi, but do NOT drink and drive.

Regarding the next day? How many folks here go out and have a few too many, then drive to work the next day? How do we know? How do you know if your fit to drive?

I am not criticising, I am merely asking how do we know if we are fit to drive and how long does it take to clear out all the alcohol? Have the Police now got equipment to detect drugs in the bloodstream?

John the curious
 
glojo said:
In this modern age I would suggest if you go out drinking, then don't drive. Not even a pint of shandy. Have a designated driver or use a taxi, but do NOT drink and drive.
Click to expand...

That's my strategy and it works surprisingly well. ;) I don't believ drinking and driving go together at all, irrespective of what the legal limit is, so I just stick to absolutely no alcohol at all when I drive. :)
 
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