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Drink Drive Limit

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Some of us are old enough to remember the days before, when stories would be told about someone having a skinful and driving a car home from the golf club only for the car to end up in a bunker near the club gates and the drunk slept the night there.

And some of us know members who, even today, will have at least have 5-7 pints and drive home. One of them does it every day, even though he's been banned twice. Limits won't stop the die hard drinkers, but more severe punishments might.
 
Wow, a lot of interesting and bizarre arguments being made.

As stated by many above, UK drink driving limits are pretty high by civilised country standards. 50mg is a reasonable limit and I think it should apply across the UK. If it has the effect of making some people reluctantly stop drinking at all before driving, good. That is the wise course of action anyway.

As to the suggestion that the current limit is fine, and that it represents some sort of safe level of alcohol, that is simply false. Driving performance is impaired at 50-80 mg in many drivers. They may or may not be aware that it is, but it is. Reaction times, in particular, as well as an enhanced sense of bravado.

The argument that most accidents are caused by bad driving sober drivers is certainly true, but beside the point. The same logic would say that we should allow people to carry guns because most murders are currently with knives. A nonsensical argument.

Of course individual responses to alcohol vary, and base driving skill levels also vary. There is no way around this, except to make the clear clear and specific, and that is what the drink driving laws do. Some of us are old enough to remember the days before, when stories would be told about someone having a skinful and driving a car home from the golf club only for the car to end up in a bunker near the club gates and the drunk slept the night there.

Good post particularly the part in Bold.


Anyone who thinks it's ok to have a pint then drive is an idiot! Selfish! and hasn't come across the total devastation a drink affected accident causes to countless families for generations.

If you must have a pint when out you have a more serious issue than desire.
 
And some of us know members who, even today, will have at least have 5-7 pints and drive home. One of them does it every day, even though he's been banned twice. Limits won't stop the die hard drinkers, but more severe punishments might.

I had 5 pints, was stopped on the way home and blew 35. Which is right on the limit and a pass in the UK.
 
Being brutally honest, I do not think it will lessen road deaths.
Drunk drivers are generally well over the present limit so if it is not working now it will not change.

In my area speeding on rural roads is by far the biggest killer.
How many police cars/cameras do we see?... none.
They are all policing the safest place to drive, the motorway.
 
And some of us know members who, even today, will have at least have 5-7 pints and drive home. One of them does it every day, even though he's been banned twice. Limits won't stop the die hard drinkers, but more severe punishments might.

Nowadays, if you saw some idiot do that, you should ring the police. I would.
 
Yes



Yes

Who knows....? Reducing the limit as a vote winner is not the reason to be reducing it.
Prove that reducing it will save lives and there's a case for it.

I think its safe to assume that the current limit is in place as that level of alcohol in the system has a minimal effect on ones ability to drive.
Lowering it, therefore, will have a negligible effect in lowering the number of crashes.
The vast majority of crashes involving alcohol are, I believe, caused by those significantly over the limit.
Lowering the limit will not change that.

If you really want to save lives, reduce the speed limit to 20 mph around town, 30 on rural roads and 40 on motorways.....

I thought it has been proven that 1 unit gives people a false confidence whilst reducing the reactions

2 units gives an even bigger false confidence and reduced reactions
 
I want to see a mandatory retest done at age 60 and then every 5yrs thereafter, older people on the road are a pain and much more dangerous than someone after a sherry or couple of pints, it takes them 10 minutes to get into the car so their a danger to themselves as they'd never be able to get out in an accident, they can't keep up or understand the new road markings, signs etc and are all over the shop, I'd like to see more of a campaign to get old people off the road and put on public transport :whistle:


Indeed. And as for women drivers! Sheesh, let's not go there! Driving in high heels while putting on make up and shouting at the kids in the backseat. Sheer lunacy I tell you. They cause more traffic jams in car parks across the country than the rest of the driving public put together. No sense of direction, spatial awareness of a blind quadruple amputee and two speeds in traffic (flat out or emergency stop).

Ban them all I say. ;)
 
Indeed. And as for women drivers! Sheesh, let's not go there! Driving in high heels while putting on make up and shouting at the kids in the backseat. Sheer lunacy I tell you. They cause more traffic jams in car parks across the country than the rest of the driving public put together. No sense of direction, spatial awareness of a blind quadruple amputee and two speeds in traffic (flat out or emergency stop).

Ban them all I say. ;)

As for the drunken 70yr old guy in high heels, smoking a pipe...:p
 
I had 5 pints, was stopped on the way home and blew 35. Which is right on the limit and a pass in the UK.

Sorry but I'm calling that rubbish

Sorry but only a selfish moron gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking 5 pints
 
Sorry but I'm calling that rubbish

Sorry but only a selfish moron gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking 5 pints

Only a selfish moron that is well within the law. Unless he failed to mention he drove into a bus full of orphans on the way back! I am also calling rubbish however.

There is no problem with the limit as it is. It may make the roads safer, it may not. It is all conjuncture. I'll stick with my pint and a half after golf and watching the football or after golf.
 
It was over about 4 hours, with dinner too.

Sorry but it's rubbish - and it's a disgrace why anyone would step behind a wheel of a car after 5 pints
 
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Another thing.

If road safety is genuinely the only reason for this proposal then would it not he a good idea to bring all drivers in line with HGV/LGV drivers hours? Limit everybody's driving to (European rules if working or domestic rules if not) no more than 90 hrs over a 2 weeks rolling period, average of around 48 hrs per week over a 17 week rolling period, no more than 10 hrs per day with the requisite 45 minutes break at the correct time.* Put digital tachographs in all cars, obviously, to ensure adherence, spot checks from the police and DVSA to ensure compliance.

After all, these driving regs are obviously there for a good reason (safety being one) and protect other road users from drivers who have been on the road too long and who will obviously be tired, and we know tiredness kills as it's on motorway gantrys.

Would those advocating zero alcohol limits and/or supportive of the cut in the lower limit be supportive of and accept the above? After all it might, perhaps, just possibly make the roads safer?

:D


* figures may be slightly out (doing this from memory) but they're as near as dammit.
 
Yes I would be in favour :thup:

Would be in favour of anything that helps the roads become safer
 
Also meant to add the following to my post above (too late to edit).

You would also have to undertake 40hrs training every 5yrs, pass a medical every 5yrs (once you turn 45?) and every year once you turn 60 in order to keep your licence. All paid for out of your own pocket btw.

Oh, you have to pay for your digital tachograph card as well, and update it every 5yrs.....paid for by yourself obviously. :)
 
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Medical yes - small test - yes but only undertake training if deemed to require it.

Drivers do need to be examined at regular intervals in their lives
 
Medical yes - small test - yes but only undertake training if deemed to require it.

Drivers do need to be examined at regular intervals in their lives

Nope, the training is mandatory, doesn't matter if you need it.

Obviously, given your acceptance of the above and your (correct imo) assertion that drivers need to be examined at regular intervals, you will of course have been out with a driving instructor to assess your driving ability since passing your test? :thup:
 
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