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[ScottieMV6]

The government seem set to announce new limits for drinking and driving.

Why bother? All that is going to happen is that people are going to get confused and try to use the fact they didn't realise to get away with it. This will possibly take up valuable court and police time.

We should just make it illegal to drink anything if you are going to drive. This way there can be no confusion and no defence if you are caught. I personally never touch a drop if I am driving but there are a number of irresponsible people who do not gve a toss

[Hannah Judes Dad]

Have to agree zero limit then no excusses.

[Jimbob]

zero is just too unworkable imho.

something like 10-20 mg is zero in effect, but allows for alcohol in cooking, medicines, chocolates, a drink (not a session) the night before etc

[Varche]

Zero limit? how long after drinking do you wait before you can drive safe in the knowledge that you are OK? next morning? Next Evening. Two days?

[Hannah Judes Dad]

zero is just too unworkable imho.

something like 10-20 mg is zero in effect, but allows for alcohol in cooking, medicines, chocolates, a drink (not a session) the night before etc

How many people read the instructions then drive while under the influence of medicine/drugs be it prescribed or otherwise?

[Varche]

That used to be my uncle except his eyesight was so bad that he couldn't read!

[Dishevelled Den]

Surely it's easier not to drink and drive and to remember that after consuming alcohol 'the night before’ some level in excess of the current limit may remain in the body.

Zero tolerance in terms of blood/alcohol levels in the bloodstream doesn't really work due to the way individuals metabolise alcohol and how the body naturally produces chemicals that can be detected my measuring equipment even though the subject may not have been drinking alcohol.

I think there would also be a legal consideration here that demands a degree of tolerance to be applied as any measuring equipment used in this way can't be guaranteed to be accurate 100% of the time on each and every occasion.


I have culled these comments from those I made in an earlier thread as they're probably as relevant in this one.

[Chris_H]

I don't agree with drink-driving per se but it can happen without knowing it.  To present it as deliberate in all cases misses the truth completely.

If we want to crack down on drink-driving we need to crack down on poor/incompetent driving at the same time.  I'm sure some people with 79mg on board are safer drivers than many with zero!

Not an appropriate scheme in the current climate I think.

[ScottieMV6]

I don't agree with drink-driving per se but it can happen without knowing it.  To present it as deliberate in all cases misses the truth completely.

If we want to crack down on drink-driving we need to crack down on poor/incompetent driving at the same time.  I'm sure some people with 79mg on board are safer drivers than many with zero!

Not an appropriate scheme in the current climate I think.

Agreed Chris

Some people would do well to remember that driving is a privelege and not a right. The current driving test is a joke and needs to be vastly improved IMO

[Martin_1962]

Current limit is fine. Someone 3 times over this limit will be over any limit.

[Andy B]

It was debated the other day ......


we couldn't agree then either      

[steve_daly]

Current limit is fine. Someone 3 times over this limit will be over any limit.

I agree with this.

Anyone prepared to drink and drive to a dangerous and stupid extent, will be over any limit, so any change wont affect these type of people. Lowering the limit will have more of an impact on people who had one glass of wine too many the night before and who are perfectly capable of driving the next day, or the man who has a pint of beer with his pub lunch.

I think more of an issue in this day and age are people driving under the influence of recreational drugs.

[mars]

Current limit is fine. Someone 3 times over this limit will be over any limit.

I agree with this.

Anyone prepared to drink and drive to a dangerous and stupid extent, will be over any limit, so any change wont affect these type of people. Lowering the limit will have more of an impact on people who had one glass of wine too many the night before and who are perfectly capable of driving the next day, or the man who has a pint of beer with his pub lunch.

I think more of an issue in this day and age are people driving under the influence of recreational drugs.

Totally agree. Someone who is willing to have 5 or 6 pints and drive home from the pub will continue to do so anyway!