The law and drink driving

First of all I must say I really love watching police documentary programmes on tv. Could watch them all day long.

Each time I watch though I find myself getting ticked off how some drunk driver got off the hook because the initial test is not deemed accurate enough. So they get taken to the station, sober up and pass the more accurate test which is the only one they go on, and thereby get away with it.

It's all good and well to say it's just a cut off point, but in my opinion if you look drunk enough to need to get stopped and blow above limit on the spot you should get it. Eliminates external factors like how far away said person is from nearest station or any thing else.

Problem is the roadside blow test isnt accurate enough, ive also got a problem with next day alcohol breath test failures, you just dont know when its ok, i know you could always not drink the night before but what about if you are a responsible drinker and have a few pints the night before?
There should be in addition to the breath test a sobriety test, a failure at night is different to the morning after imo.

Imo the limit alone is antiquated, every person absorbs alcohol differently, so one person would be affected by a small amount whereas another wont show any affects for the same amount.
Im not condoning DD, far from it, its just to grey.

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by specialone

ive also got a problem with next day alcohol breath test failures, you just dont know when its ok, i know you could always not drink the night before but what about if you are a responsible
There should be in addition to the breath test a sobriety test, a failure at night is different to the morning after imo..

Sorry mate, but you're so far off the mark with that, you're not even on the same page.

Alcohol is alcohol. The amount in you has a direct relationship to how you are able to function, sleep or no sleep. Why should getting your head down for a few hours make it ok to be over the limit?

Pete

[Bri w]

I'd like to see the UK follow some of the EU countries, i.e. a zero limit. Its unambiguous.

As to next day testing; same limit to apply. The body will process "last night's" session but its up to the drinker to drink sensibly. I think with enough notice to a change in the law and decent education of the public as to what levels of of alcohol drunk the night before would be safe the following morning it is the only sensible course to follow.

And just think of how many accidents, many involving innocent victims, would be avoided.

Its pretty clear the current, antiquated, system isn't working... time for a change.

[MisterTommyH]

Originally Posted by Bri w

I'd like to see the UK follow some of the EU countries, i.e. a zero limit. Its unambiguous.

I see where you're coming from, but is there not some kind of problem where some medical conditions would register a low amount of alcohol? I.e. below the current limit, but above zero? Might be complete bull shine, but I'm sure I've heard that used as an argument against zero limit before.

I've got to say, regardless of the actual system of testing, I'm quite impressed in the turn round of attitudes to drink driving in general over the last few years.... It used to be seen as almost acceptable, or something to try and get away with. Now it's completely taboo, and something that people would disown friends for if they got caught.

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by Tommy H

I see where you're coming from, but is there not some kind of problem where some medical conditions would register a low amount of alcohol? I.e. below the current limit, but above zero? Might be complete bull shine, but I'm sure I've heard that used as an argument against zero limit before.

I've got to say, regardless of the actual system of testing, I'm quite impressed in the turn round of attitudes to drink driving in general over the last few years.... It used to be seen as almost acceptable, or something to try and get away with. Now it's completely taboo, and something that people would disown friends for if they got caught.

Okay, pick a suitably low limit that corresponds to something above what is found naturally in some people. That would also give an element of tolerance to those who'd had a couple the night before - sorted.

[Biker Biggles]

I think the current limit was set because medical opinion said that higher levels were more likely to cause significant impairment.Which seems sensible if correct.Given that we get very animated about alcohol these days we tend to ignore other reasons for bad driving,like being tired,angry,listening to the stereo,having a fag,or just bad attitude.You dont have to be drunk to tailgate,but you will cause serious crashes by doing it.

[punyXpress]

Morning after tests:
How many drove home the night before but weren't caught at the time?

[TamSV]

With the current cuts to traffic policing any change to the limit is pretty academic is it not? If there's no-one around to breathalyse you it doesn't really matter how much you've had.

Originally Posted by Bluepete

Sorry mate, but you're so far off the mark with that, you're not even on the same page.

Alcohol is alcohol. The amount in you has a direct relationship to how you are able to function, sleep or no sleep. Why should getting your head down for a few hours make it ok to be over the limit?

Pete

Nope youve missed my point.

6 pints on a night out which ends at 12 midnight means you'll probably pulling around 12-14 units, they reckon recovery is approx 1 unit per hour so...
12 units= 12 hours, means you cant drive to approx 12 mid day the following day.
But say i drive to work at 8am, means i still have 4 units of alcohol in my system, two is roughly the legal limit so you're twice the legal limit @8am.

Get pulled 20 mins after downing 2 pints on the night =twice the legal limit still ( based on 1 pint is approx 2 units).

My argument is you WILL behave / perform differently in any test with your reactions compared to being twice the limit on the actual night you consume the alcohol, ( which in effect is what the drink drive limit is to stop us getting beyond an acceptable level)

I 100% know i would get a different result if i performed a reaction test under the two conditions as above, im sure other people feel perfectly ok the following morning but hand on heart with the same level of alcohol the night before would feel slightly affected and perform differently in the same test.

Thats why imo, a sobriety test in unison with a breath test is fairer than just the level off a blow test.

Finally, a reaction test would also be suitably affected by a persons tiredness, something that can affect us just as much as a couple of pints.