Drink driving

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I was wondering what attitudes people have encountered towards drink driving in other countries?

I find there's quite a lax attitude among many people towards it here. Everyone would be shocked by someone who was really drunk getting behind the wheel, but a lot of people don't stick to the law but argue that they 'know their own limits'.

Personally, I have a different attitude towards drink driving and hungover driving. But then that may well be because my driving lessons were on a Saturday morning. (The driving instructor has a brake pedal, people!)

 

[ebia]

I was wondering what attitudes people have encountered towards drink driving in other countries?

I find there's quite a lax attitude among many people towards it here. Everyone would be shocked by someone who was really drunk getting behind the wheel, but a lot of people don't stick to the law but argue that they 'know their own limits'.

Personally, I have a different attitude towards drink driving and hungover driving. But then that may well be because my driving lessons were on a Saturday morning. (The driving instructor has a brake pedal, people!)

The attitude is better down here - partly because of lower limits (.05 for a full licence, .01 while on a probationary licence) and random breath testing.

That said, living in rurual australia, I do know people who will drive even when too drunk to walk properly provided they have a route home along the back country roads.

 

[selfinflikted]

I'm completely, one-hundred percent against drunk driving. Even if the drunk getting behind the wheel isn't concerned for their own life, they often forget they place others' lives in danger should an accident happen.

 

[snoochface]

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Drunk people have impaired judgment. How does someone with impaired judgment "know their limits"?

There are laws in place for a reason, and if a drunk wants to get behind the wheel and "know their limits", they should go out to the desert and find a cactus to avoid running into. But when me and my family are put at risk because some arrogant know-it-all thinks they "know their limits" and gets behind the wheel of a two ton speeding bullet, I'm going to have a problem with that.

People need to grow the he....ck up and realize that driving is a privilege, not an entitlement, and if they are not prepared for the responsibility of it, they should go invest in a Schwinn.

 

[Sitswithamouse]

I'm against drink driving and you become a potential murderer if you get behind the wheel of a car under the influence.
I think in this country there should be more campaigns and higher sentences for those that cause accidents and kill people when drunk .

 

[Caitlin.ann]

I'm against it.

 

[pgp_protector]

I don't even like getting behind the wheel if I've had an Odouls beer

 

[Chajara]

If you're going to be drinking and you're not going to be within walking distance of a place to crash, then you'd better arrange so you don't have to take your 2000lb death machine out on the road because you're probably going to kill somebody.

I lost respect for someone really, really fast once I know they drive drunk. I've just heard too many stories of someone losing a husband, wife, or child while the drunk driver of course lives to tell the tale.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

I think if someone drinks and drives and an innocent party is killed because of it, then the driver should be charged with murder....it's a simple as that. There have been enough campaigns to make sure everyone knows that drink driving if wrong, there have been enough people killed to know the consequences. If they just kill themselves, fine, but if others are killed...it's murder....if others are injured, then that drunk driver should pay all costs and compensation. The law is often too soft.

 

[stan1980]

I think if someone drinks and drives and an innocent party is killed because of it, then the driver should be charged with murder

Lets be sensible... no, they shouldn't be charged with murder. This would imply there was wilful intent on the part of the drink driver to kill someone. I don't agree with drink driving but lets not class them in the same category as cold hearted killers.

People make mistakes, and if there was no wilful intent then you don't deserve to spend the rest of your life behind bars. Surely even a drunk driver who kills someone deserves a second chance after a custodial sentence?

 

[Electric Skeptic]

Lets be sensible... no, they shouldn't be charged with murder. This would imply there was wilful intent on the part of the drink driver to kill someone. I don't agree with drink driving but lets not class them in the same category as cold hearted killers.

People make mistakes, and if there was no wilful intent then you don't deserve to spend the rest of your life behind bars. Surely even a drunk driver who kills someone deserves a second chance after a custodial sentence?

Nope. Lock them up and throw away the key, for my money. Anyone caught drink driving - whether anyone is harmed or not - should lose their license for ever, with a rider that if they are ever caught driving again, they immediately go to jail for a good long while.

 

[Lockguy3000]

IMHO the DUI laws here in New York City is just.

First DWI offense: Misdemeanor. $500 to $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail, and a minimum 6-month license revocation.

Second DWI offense within 10 years: Felony. $1,000 to $5,000 fine, up to four years in jail, and minimum one-year license revocation.

Third DWI offense within 10 years: Felony. $2,000 to $10,000 fine, up to seven years in jail, and minimum one-year license revocation.

The New York City Police Department also have the right to seize your vehicle, and once you are convicted, they will auction it.

For drunk drivers getting into an accident involving a death, first offenders will be charged with involuntary man-slaughter.

Second to habitual offenders can face murder charges.

May I ask what are the penalties in your state/country?

 

[GrannieAnnie]

IMHO the DUI laws here in New York City is just.

First DWI offense: Misdemeanor. $500 to $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail, and a minimum 6-month license revocation.

Second DWI offense within 10 years: Felony. $1,000 to $5,000 fine, up to four years in jail, and minimum one-year license revocation.

Third DWI offense within 10 years: Felony. $2,000 to $10,000 fine, up to seven years in jail, and minimum one-year license revocation.

The New York City Police Department also have the right to seize your vehicle, and once you are convicted, they will auction it.

For drunk drivers getting into an accident involving a death, first offenders will be charged with involuntary man-slaughter.

Second to habitual offenders can face murder charges.

May I ask what are the penalties in your state/country?

That sounds good to me... I don't know what our penalties for drink driving or speeding are.....I've never been charged. I don't drink and only been had for speeding once about 20 years ago, I think I was doing 5 over the speed limit and I got $75....it scared hell out of me and I've been very careful every since.

 

[Meshavrischika]

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Drunk people have impaired judgment. How does someone with impaired judgment "know their limits"?

There are laws in place for a reason, and if a drunk wants to get behind the wheel and "know their limits", they should go out to the desert and find a cactus to avoid running into. But when me and my family are put at risk because some arrogant know-it-all thinks they "know their limits" and gets behind the wheel of a two ton speeding bullet, I'm going to have a problem with that.

People need to grow the he....ck up and realize that driving is a privilege, not an entitlement, and if they are not prepared for the responsibility of it, they should go invest in a Schwinn.

agreed 100%. people get huffy when you tell them driving is not "their right"... but it's not. I just wish the courts spent more time taking the privelage away instead of just making people pay fines, etc.

 

[Bombila]

Drunk driving, even when just approaching the limit (.08, but .05 will lose you your driving privelegges for the night) is very frowned upon here, and I agree. I find it interesting, though, that it appears (from my own observations) that younger people take the laws much more seriously than people past middle age, who grew up with much laxer laws. I am more likely to see someone over the age of fifty driving after having had 'just a couple of drinks' than someone younger than that. These older drinking drivers use excuses that include 'not driving far', 'small amount of alcohol doesn't impair my driving', 'am a very good, responsible, experienced driver'. While I disapprove of those excuses, they are true to the extent that these older drivers, when they do get into an accident while alcohol impaired, usually have less serious accidents than a younger driver might, i.e., in a ditch at a relatively slow speed rather than 120kph off an icy bridge.

 

[stan1980]

I just wish the courts spent more time taking the privelage away instead of just making people pay fines, etc.

Over here, you will get a 12 month minimum ban for drink driving no exceptions.

The main problem with drink driving is it slows down your reaction times. If governments were really serious about making our roads safer places, they'd incorporate regular reaction time tests onto all drivers.

I'm pretty sure there are people on the road with considerably slower reactions then say a fit healthy person who has consumed 5 pints of lager. These people also ought to be taken off the road. This may upset one or 2 people, but you can't justify being behind a vehicle if your reactions are slower than a drunk.

 

[Pogue]

I'm not sure if we are so lax here- I guess it all depends on our own personal experiences, but I've found that it's a pretty big taboo to drink and drive, at least where I come from. I don't think we'd (we as in the people I know) let someone drive if they had been drinking, even if they had only had a couple of drinks. And I think the laws are fairly strict on drink driving.

 

[ArnautDaniel]

agreed 100%. people get huffy when you tell them driving is not "their right"... but it's not. I just wish the courts spent more time taking the privelage away instead of just making people pay fines, etc.

Maybe, but unfortunately due to poor civil planning in the US, it can be very very difficult to live in many areas without being able to drive.

It is one thing if you live in the city and can take public transit and it is merely inconvenient....

There is some reason behind many Americans feeling that not being able to drive is a genuine and serious hardship.

 

[zx128k]

In the UK you can get the following for breaking the law.

Failing to provide a roadside breath test (Code DR70)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 3 (£1,000)4 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
Driving/Attempting to Drive with excess alcohol (DR10)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or up to 6 months imprisonment
Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence
Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years.
Being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol (DR40)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 4 (£2,500) and/or up to 3 months imprisonment
10 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
After Driving/Attempting to drive refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR30)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or 6 months imprisonment
Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence (18 months tends to be the norm as you are considered to have been trying to avoid being found guilty)
Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years
After being in charge refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR60)
Penalty - Fine - Level 4 (£2,500) and/or 3 months imprisonment
10 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court.
From http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/crimedrinkdriving.htm

 

[~Jo~]

I have to say I live in the Uk and our drink drive policy is the same as yours and that is dont do it. I have personal experience of my husband being hit but a drunk driver, he knocked my man 5ft in the air and 12ft down the road before he hit 3 other cars and ended up in someones front garden, he then got out the van and ran away, only when he got home did he phone the police and said I think I have killed someone, and they sent the patrol car round and they arrested him. They kept him over night and let him go the next morning minus the van keys only to appear in court at a later date. So on the monday morning he went back to work while my man was suffering his stupidity at home, and to this day still is, this accident was in 2001, and he is still suffering the after effects today. In court he got points on his licence and community service so hows that for our justice system for you. Me personally seeing my husband suffer the way he has I would have locked him up and throne away the key. He is by now driving again not a pleasant thought for any one if he does it again... And I can see the reasoning in if they kill someone they should go down for it, everyone should know there limits with drink and yes we all make mistakes but not with someone elses life and a 2 tonne car.If you are going for a drink no matter how big or small dont take the car, get public transport or cab then you can drink what you like. without hurting anyone other than yourself. Sorry if you disagree but when you suffer watching someone you love hurting and its not there fault its not funny at all......My man was doing his job on a call out emergency and the result was at the hands of a nutcase in a van with a drink inside him.