Lowering the drink driving limit

Was once in a country pub in Norfolk around 6pm on a Thursday evening. Guy at the bar had clearly been in there since it opened and was properly drunk. As we arrived he was being asked to leave. He dropped his car keys 3 times on his way out the door, and he wandered across the car park, got in his car and set off. Not one of the locals who obviously knew him tried to stop him, like it was a regular occurrence.

My mate took his VRN and called the cops, and we watched him weave his way down the country road, narrowly missing multiple parked cars. When he got through to the control room, he was told that there were only 2 coppers on duty for the whole area and they were already dealing with another incident, but they'd follow up when they could. This was about 15 years ago mind you.
 
Trevor Morley's Tache said:
Was once in a country pub in Norfolk around 6pm on a Thursday evening. Guy at the bar had clearly been in there since it opened and was properly drunk. As we arrived he was being asked to leave. He dropped his car keys 3 times on his way out the door, and he wandered across the car park, got in his car and set off. Not one of the locals who obviously knew him tried to stop him, like it was a regular occurrence.

My mate took his VRN and called the cops, and we watched him weave his way down the country road, narrowly missing multiple parked cars. When he got through to the control room, he was told that there were only 2 coppers on duty for the whole area and they were already dealing with another incident, but they'd follow up when they could. This was about 15 years ago mind you.
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Snitches get stitches
 
listening to a radio show yesterday debating these changes DD and over 70s posing additional risk was given as the government's reasoning (sure it was a government propaganda piece) but nothing was mentioned about more immigrants that gained licences in third world countries, many uninsured, being involved in accidents and increasing the risks.
Nothing was said about the government allowing council scooters to be ridden on the road often at night by twats with no road sense in dark clothing. Nothing was said about the amount of road space now being denied to car drivers and given to cyclists many of whom have less regard for the rules of the road than the twats on scooters.
The government are simply trying to reduce the numbers on the road to meet there pointless environmental targets and once again targeting the motorist.
 
East Level 2 said:
Is there really a high accident rate for those between the current limit and the proposed new limit?
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In Wales, the introduction of a default 20mph speed limit on many residential roads has led to a decrease in road casualties.

Specifically, there was a 26.2% decrease in casualties on 20 and 30mph roads in the first year after the change, according to TfW.

This translates to around 100 fewer people being killed or seriously injured in the 12 month period

I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect to see a similar reduction in RTAs as a result of lowering the limit for alcohol.

Any reduction in road accidents would be good for society. As such, I really can't see why any sensible, reasonable person would see the proposed limit reduction as a bad thing.
 
If even one life is saved, it’s worth it. But that’s a controversial topic for sure. I can see both sides: on one hand, safety has to come first, but on the other, people want to enjoy a pint or two responsibly. I know some folks who use apps like life360 to keep track of their family’s driving habits—it’s surprising how much info they give
 
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Trevor Morley's Tache said:
Was once in a country pub in Norfolk around 6pm on a Thursday evening. Guy at the bar had clearly been in there since it opened and was properly drunk. As we arrived he was being asked to leave. He dropped his car keys 3 times on his way out the door, and he wandered across the car park, got in his car and set off. Not one of the locals who obviously knew him tried to stop him, like it was a regular occurrence.

My mate took his VRN and called the cops, and we watched him weave his way down the country road, narrowly missing multiple parked cars. When he got through to the control room, he was told that there were only 2 coppers on duty for the whole area and they were already dealing with another incident, but they'd follow up when they could. This was about 15 years ago mind you.
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I’ve mentioned on here before that my rag neighbour drinks & drives pretty much every night.
He has already served a 20 month ban for drunk driving along with a two grand fine. It took him less than 2 weeks from getting his licence back last October, to start driving back from the pub.
He walks to & from work every day, yet drives to & from the local pub, which is actually closer to his home than where he works.
I was walking out of our local coop a few months ago & saw him staggering along, clearly hammered, only to see him pull up onto his drive 15mins later with a takeaway.
I have seen him sat outside the local pub drinking, with his car parked nearby & knowing he will drive home, I have reported him to the local police at least 15 times.
The police are always grateful for the report & say they will keep a look out for his car, but nothing ever comes of it & I have now given up reporting him.
 
Lavinda Past said:
In Wales, the introduction of a default 20mph speed limit on many residential roads has led to a decrease in road casualties.

Specifically, there was a 26.2% decrease in casualties on 20 and 30mph roads in the first year after the change, according to TfW.

This translates to around 100 fewer people being killed or seriously injured in the 12 month period

I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect to see a similar reduction in RTAs as a result of lowering the limit for alcohol.

Any reduction in road accidents would be good for society. As such, I really can't see why any sensible, reasonable person would see the proposed limit reduction as a bad thing.
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You could have just typed "Not that I'm aware of".
People get breathalysed after accidents so there must be records of the number of collisions involving drivers between the current and proposed limits.
 
Manc baggie said:
I’ve mentioned on here before that my rag neighbour drinks & drives pretty much every night.
He has already served a 20 month ban for drunk driving along with a two grand fine. It took him less than 2 weeks from getting his licence back last October, to start driving back from the pub.
He walks to & from work every day, yet drives to & from the local pub, which is actually closer to his home than where he works.
I was walking out of our local coop a few months ago & saw him staggering along, clearly hammered, only to see him pull up onto his drive 15mins later with a takeaway.
I have seen him sat outside the local pub drinking, with his car parked nearby & knowing he will drive home, I have reported him to the local police at least 15 times.
The police are always grateful for the report & say they will keep a look out for his car, but nothing ever comes of it & I have now given up reporting him.
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The lack of convictions for drinking and driving is definitely the fault of the police then. They are too busy to catch people. Trebles all round
 
Manc baggie said:
I’ve mentioned on here before that my rag neighbour drinks & drives pretty much every night.
He has already served a 20 month ban for drunk driving along with a two grand fine. It took him less than 2 weeks from getting his licence back last October, to start driving back from the pub.
He walks to & from work every day, yet drives to & from the local pub, which is actually closer to his home than where he works.
I was walking out of our local coop a few months ago & saw him staggering along, clearly hammered, only to see him pull up onto his drive 15mins later with a takeaway.
I have seen him sat outside the local pub drinking, with his car parked nearby & knowing he will drive home, I have reported him to the local police at least 15 times.
The police are always grateful for the report & say they will keep a look out for his car, but nothing ever comes of it & I have now given up reporting him.
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Next time, shred his tires with a chainsaw. See how quick the cops turn up.
 
East Level 2 said:
You could have just typed "Not that I'm aware of".
People get breathalysed after accidents so there must be records of the number of collisions involving drivers between the current and proposed limits.
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As far as I'm aware, the police don't keep records of figures in cases where the breathalised driver is below the legal limit. Why would they need to if no offence has been committed?

I think you're just trying to be a smart arse. The sort of pathetic 'barrack room lawyer' that the police have to put up with.

My final paragraph is all that matters. Lowering limits contributes to a reduction in RTAs. If you don't agree with that, there's definitely something wrong with you.
 
Lavinda Past said:
As far as I'm aware, the police don't keep records of figures in cases where the breathalised driver is below the legal limit. Why would they need to if no offence has been committed?

I think you're just trying to be a smart arse. The sort of pathetic 'barrack room lawyer' that the police have to put up with.

My final paragraph is all that matters. Lowering limits contributes to a reduction in RTAs. If you don't agree with that, there's definitely something wrong with you.
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Oh do fuck off with the insults. I'm happy for the limit to be lowered if it will reduce risk but there's no guarantee it will.
 
crooky said:
But the point is that you can't randomly be pulled over and breathalysed. You have to be doing something wrong for them to do anything.
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You need to either have committed a moving traffic offence or the cops suspect alcohol
Fairly easy to justify tbh or alternatively you stop the driver to check his licence or other documents then form the suspicion of alcohol opinion
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
Of course you’ll always get the selfish brain dead fuckwits like @oldhamblue who’ll just crack on and drive pissed up anyway but no law will prevent scum like that.
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I knew I'd get slaughtered for admitting it and rightly so.

I don't get into a car "pissed up". 3 or 4 pints over a 4 or 5 hour evening is not pissed up.

I've been pulled over and breathalised 3 times and been under every time
 
BimboBob said:
Since they lowered the limit in Scotland its made no difference to the conviction rates.
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And....?

What about the accident rates over the same period? It's far more important to reduce the rate of accidents than increase the conviction rate.

The idea is to persuade drinkers to leave their cars at home or in the pub car oark rather than drive home from the pub potentially over the limit.
 
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