Drink Driving Limit to come down?

[Anonymous]

I see Scotland are going to bring down the legal limit this is from the BBC

"The Scottish government has announced plans to reduce the country's drink-drive limit in time for Christmas.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has taken steps which, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, would mean a new limit being introduced on 5 December.

Under the plans, Scotland's blood alcohol limit would be cut from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

It would mean the legal limit in Scotland would be lower than in England - where the limit is 80mg in blood."

Do you think the English parliament will do the same or will they if you pardon the pun "Bottle it" and keep taking the tax and also keep the Brewers sweet who just happen to contribute so well to Party Funds

As an exiled Geordie Boy it strikes me that drivers could start on a journey in say Blyth and drive for 30 minutes cross the border and be over the limit which is a bit strange and it would be even worse if you live in Berwick upon Tweed

Let me make it clear I'm a health and Safety Professional and I don't condone drink driving for a moment and tend to not drink at all if I'm out with the car and from a personal point of view would go for zero tolerance with background levels only allowed but I just think its a strange when on the UK mainland you could drive 100 yards and go from driving legally to being a criminal

 

[renegade79]

Spare a wee thought for Irelands 5-O who can't even cross land borders to effect arrests for travelling criminals, joyriders and even drink drivers. But yes, in theory one could be under the limit in one country and over the limit in another, but I'd imagine the English gov will change that. We have the lower Limits here as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Personally, I am all for zero alcohol if you're driving. I love a good drink but, if I am driving, I don't touch the stuff.

Interesting post though. I live in Scotland and that completely passed me by. Think it'll catch a lot of people out!

 

[Anonymous]

You would hope that you will have a good advertising campaign before they drop the limit although the date they give does seem very close should the Scottish Assembly(?) give it the go ahead
It was actually featured quite heavily on the 6 o'clock news tonight I do agree though the way to go is zero although I'm aware there are issues with that as your "good drink" could put you off the road for 36 hours or so

 

[Anonymous]

I have missed the news completely today. Did it the they day and, when catching up, discovered that an unclaimed nuclear sub was found lurking off Sweden. See what happens when you're not paying attention!!

Yeah, you're absolutely right about not driving for a good whack of time post "good drink". These days I don't think the hangover would allow it even if I wanted to.

 

[Anonymous]

Seemingly if u've had serious piss up the nite before u shouldn't drive till after 6 the next evening . Aye like that's gonna happen. So the road safety peeler told us at an event.

 

[Anonymous]

I Agree
Its one thing not having a drink if you in a car but I'm sure we have all had a few in the house or have been out and got a Taxi and then gone about our business as usual the next day
I believe there is an average rate that alcohol in the blood is dissipated but as you say we are all different but I think there are zero tolerance countries and some USA states out there....so there must be precedents set
Guess it just takes it one step further in terms of planning a drink and have to drive somewhere the next day to be fair when you start at my work place (Power Stations ) you sign on to the fact you can be tested at anytime and face serious disciplinary consequences if your over the limit I have never seen it used but its there if HR want to use it

 

[Anonymous]

Loosely linked, check this out!!

http://www.theladbible.com/articles/is- ... nightclubs

My night would begin and end in the same bar if they employed that up here!

 

[Anonymous]

I've worked on contract for a number of companies around the world where they have random breath tests

You turn up for work looking a little worse for wear or any whiff of anything on your breath they test you & pick people at random to.

 

[DKZ5745]

Snowy has made a very good point. Rather than having it set in stone, it should be (to a degree) at the discretion of the officer at the time, and further on, if the officer decides to be as understanding as traffic cops usually are, then the court should be allowed to show leniency in certain circumstances.

As said above, drinking and driving should not be allowed, ever. But, if the limit is reduced, or even removed completely to zero tolerance, it would be very unfortunate if for example, you were parked at the lights on you way home from work when some doughnut decides to run into your back end, plod turn up, breathalise everyone, and find trace alcohol in your results. A ban for that, or even a fine, imo would be totally unfair and not justified.

Let's not forget the reason behind why drink driving is not allowed, it's because you cannot safely control a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol.
So with a seriously reduced limit, or worse still, zero tolerance, Are we saying someone tested 8 or 12 or even 16 hours after drinking, and showing some small levels, isn't capeable of safely driving?

Should be up to the cop at the scene to decide if he thinks it's a "justifiable" arrest. Yes I know that would be open to abuse, no system is perfect, but at least if it was officially "upto him" rather than a black or white issue, it would (in writing at least) be a fairer system. :beer:

 

[Anonymous]

I see Scotland has brought the limit down today

There was a pub on the News in Gretna Green where if you have 1 pint and turn one way then your a criminal in Scotland however you are perfectly legal if you turn in the opposite direction and drive through England

Seems to me regardless of the your position on drink driving of the situation which all right minded people would see to be inexcusable then that seems to be an unworkable situation so I'm guessing in spite of the stated position government position of no plans to bring the English limit down they will have to follow

 

[Anonymous]

.....it should be (to a degree) at the discretion of the officer at the time.....

No, No and thrice No :thumbdown:

These Monkeys have too much power already.
Giving them the judge and jury role as well would see their Power Crazy Heads Explode.

Too much of a dangerous road - and should be stopped at all costs.

I'll trust my luck to the group of 12 Muppets and hope that a few of them can stand up to the LoudMouth that usually decides for all 12.

British Justice - I Love It

:thumbup:

 

[Anonymous]

Agree with Gorwell the average policeman lost sight of the fact that they are public servants a long time ago and unfortunately I think the limit isn't time dependant a driver over the limit at 8-00 am is the same as a driver over the limit at 10-00pm its up to the individual to manage his life

 

[the big blue]

Hi all' :greetings-wavingblue:
...Drink Driving is an emotive subject for all BUT its far more emotive when your car is hit by a drink driver side swiping a row of parked unattended cars AND as a result of which the drunkards insurers (if they are insured) use their get out clause and every owner who has had their car hit is left to claim off their own insurance !

The confusion about a ZERO limit is unworkable as what is being measured is ALCOHOL in the body not Beer or Wine but the chemical called alcohol which is present in products that are not merely those sipped in a pub. Look at your listerine mouthwash, take a sip of that then immediately blow into a breathalyser and you'll be over the limit of ALCOHOL in the breath. What the lower 50 mg does is take away the mystery about how much you can drink and still legally be able to drive which the 80mg limit did not. With the 50mg you simply can't/ shouldn't drink any alcohol whereas with 80mg you always had the "pub expert" stating they could have 1 to 2 pints and be ok ! The 50mg should remove the "pub experts'" opinion from the conversation which is good for all those that dont want to listen to that typical drink driver anyway !! :beer:

.the big blue (..now who's up for getting the next round or O.J's in so that we can all drive ourselves home at the end of the night as we all know there's no room in the back for a lift home) !

 

[tianorth]

As already said "its up to the individual to manage their life"

If you have a drink then you don't drive.

It's also your responsibility to ensure that you don't break the law.

 

[Anonymous]

The examples of the new limits being given on the News last night was just less than a pint of beer or large glass of wine for a male and that becomes a half pint of small glass of wine for a woman which to just says you better off just not having any rather than taking any sort of gamble

 

[Anonymous]

There is only one rule to abide by, if you are going to drive, you dont have any thing at all alcholic to drink, simples! :beer:

 

[DKZ5745]

The law, quite correctly was introduced to stop people who are "unfit to drive due to alcohol" doing so.
Nobody is arguing that should change, the argument is at what stage do you become "unfit to drive"
The people I have heard campaigning for a reduction in line with Scotland are also the people who are arguing for a Zero tolerance. I'm afraid I do have to disagree there. I don't beleive that "traces" of alcohol in your system render you "unfit to drive"

So It's just this push for Zero tolerance that bothers me.

I agree with what most people are saying above, and I never drink and drive, but I DO drink and not drive, sometimes (quite possibly over the next few days for example) I drink probably more than I should.
Now if I have done that, maybe at lunch time, then again in the evening, when am I safe to drive?

I clearly wouldn't be doing so until the next day, and if I know I had too much the day before, then not early the next day, but I might think it safe to do so by tea time, and I know I would be "fit" to drive by then, but what if I still had traces of the night before & got stopped.

That is where I worry about a Zero tolerance law. It becomes a punishment, rather than a safety measure. :beer: