Drink driving
 

Now this isn't a 'knock Australia' thread, so please lets not go down that road! hehe.

I was wondering if anyone has noticed that people seem much more ready to drink drive here (Perth) than in the UK, in my experience.

There's been a few times when on a Friday afternoon people in the office have suggested a pub trip after work. I go over and will only drink Coke, but everyone else, and I mean everyone, will knock back the booze. Not just 1 or maybe 2 either.

I've said on a number of occasions that they're out of order etc, but I quickly get shouted down by people telling me 'They know what they're doing' and 'They're fine'. When it's pretty clear by their behaviour they're not.

It's not just work either, when socialising at a dinner party for example people who are driving will think nothing of knocking back beer or wine.

I read this morning that 25% of drivers surveyed in WA have admitted to driving while over the limit. I don't know how many people were surveyed, but that's a pretty outrageous percentage.

Oh and if anyone wants to see the result of said drinking/driving, drive down the Mitchell Freeway on a Friday afternoon. But just watch out for the swerving UTEs and vans.....

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No problem with drink drivers........as long as the dumb farks only kill themselves,good riddance i say:frown:

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Yep. Was at the rugby finals this weekend and a lot of players were drowning their sorrows or celevrating wins before packing up and heading off in their cars and I have no doubt that many were over the limit.

Just goes to show that the threat of loss of license, death by stoning etc; is no deterrent. Deffo seems to be a 'she'll be right mate' attitude. :blink:

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But invariably it isn't themselves who get killed.

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Sadly that is true,i have seen the evidence myself:thumbdown:

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I get the piss taken out of me in the office because I won't have one drink at 4pm on a Friday or go out for a pint at lunchtime purely because I have to drive home from work. [Maybe it's just me but I don't want to have a beer and drive no matter what the booze limit is]

Screw them, I want to get home alive and with my licence intact but I'm surprised that a bunch of [supposedly] rather intelligent people can think like that.

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Yup. Same happens to me when I say I'm only drinking soft drinks.

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And yet in 2008 alone, there were 1.13 million breath tests conducted just in Melbourne, with 3.7 million residents. Twice as many tests as in the entire UK with it's 60 million people. :confused:

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What's your point?

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Dare I say it but a lot of pubs are within walking distance in UK so thats one problem solved.

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Drink driving is a bad ingrained cultural thing in Oz, mostly because pubs and just about everything is so far away from your house, not like popping down your local boozer in England round the corner. There are far fewer drinking establishments here too so one has to travel far again for a drin, and unless you're in the middle of a city there's little public transport after 2am. Not an excuse mind you.

The police and law are very proactive about trying to stop it here, lower drink drive limits, more breath testing, booze buses etc

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Lost count of the amount of times Ive seen on current affairs shows about people losing their licenses but continuing to drive anyway.

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I'm certainly not denying that authorities here are very proactive about trying to stop it. But the fact remains that the average person thinks nothing of getting behind the wheel of a car while over the limit.

As you say, it is an ingrained culture thing. It just shocks me how widespread it is.

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My point was "and yet there were 1.13 million breath tests conducted just in Melbourne, with 3.7 million residents. Twice as many tests as in the entire UK with it's 60 million people." followed by a :confused: sign...

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Just a different style. Here it tends to be blanket testing (carpet testing? :D) whereas in the UK it tends to be targeted. If you look at the stats the number of failures in the UK is much higher than here but it doesn't mean that DD is more prevalent in the UK.

As for the OP. I think DD is more prevalent here. It is similar to the US. Not sure if that's because of the higher reliance on cars or because the UK campaign has been more successful at winning hearts and minds.

The DD limit is lower here though.

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Couple of beers after work on a Friday, where's the problem with that? As long as you're under the limit you're sweet - that's why it's called a limit.

Under the limit=not driving drunk.

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Did you actually read my post?

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I did and I didn't quote you Champ.

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I find people here more likely to consider drinking themselves right up to the limit (or what they think it is anyway) and then driving.....how often does someone tell you "2 drinks in the first hour and 1 per hour after that" as they're knocking them back? That might have started as a safety message but it's treated too loosely now.

In places I've worked there seems to be very little shame attached to DD. I can honestly say I don't remember anyone admitting to it in the UK. Here we might all go out for a beer after work on a Friday which turns into a several hour session. You ask someone how they got home on Monday and they say they drove - and most people have a good laugh about it!

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You're replying in a thread where I talk about people drink driving over the limit. In your reply you ask what the problem is with people being under the limit. Which was in no way what my original point was about....

What's this 'Champ' thing?

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Yeah i used have a good laugh about it too when i was bagging and tagging the dumb farks for the mortuary,they laughed no more:thumbup:

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I'm posting in a thread about drink driving and don't really care what your original post was about - I'm just contributing to the discussion.

Would you prefer 'Sport' or even 'Mr Pedantic'?

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Actually looking at some statistics on breath test results, it does make you wonder if they are all drinking light beers....

From those figures:

1. In Surfers Paradise it was 1 over the limit driver in every 30
   
2. In QLD, just before Christmas, it was 1 over the limit driver out of every 127
   
3. In South Australia it was 1 out of every 230 on one Public Holiday, but 1 in every 360 on another public day.

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Now now kids lets all be friends:D

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Loss of drivers permit doesnt put anyone off, I wonder what will?:(

Lots of my colleagues do it, it does seem to be the norm here.

Im afraid I do not feel sorry for those without transport that justify their drink/driving.

No excuses whatsoever.

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People are more likely to drink and drive here, no question. I personally have a one beer limit and stick to it.
Never mind losing your license and all that stuff, quite simply, I couldn't live with myself if I hurt someone......

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From what I've heard, they don't lose their licences if caught either. If they do, it's only for a short period (3 months I think). Not sure how correct it is, but heard if you need your car for work purposes, you can have a restricted licenece. If this is true, then there's not a deterent is there? Lose your licence for a minumum of 12 months for the first offence, issue a huge fine and use the scary, horrible, anti DD adverts we had in the Uk to hit home the effects.

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Just a thought but DDers are rightly condemned but what about idiots on mobiles, reading magazines etc? They are no more in control of the vehicle than drinkers....

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I think you'll find there's a graduation of penalties. So if you are caught between 0.05 and 0.07 (which is still below the UK dd limit) then the penalty is less than if you are caught over 0.07 which in turn is less than what you get over 0.15.

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Yes, that's true, you can have a licence that allows you to drive to work and back etc, so that you don't lose your job. Always struck me as a bit odd.

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My neighbour here on the Sunny coast lost his licence despite him needing it for work for DD.. he had too many beers, took out the car and wham, was caught.. he knows that it serves him right too..

Personally if I am driving I can't be bothered to have even one glass normally.. unless I can carry right on, I usually don't bother! ;)

I am pretty lucky.. our rental is central to shops etc.. so I can have a wine or 3 and then get myself home by foot (or as good as!) :)

Em x

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I think this bit from the SA gov website might explain about why some lose the licence and others don't.

Note no mention of the first offence under 0.08...

It is an offence to drive over 0.05, but not a compulsory loss of licence, for first offenders, although it may happen, as well as a fine.

0.08 is the UK drink limit.

Australia appears to have an extra penalty area between 0.05 and 0.08, while the UK considers it safe to drive at that drink level.

Many Australians, by the sounds of all this, appear to agree with the UK system.

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What with deterrents like this it's hardly surprising it's rife :eek::eek:


Police are now considering the future of a Maroochydore constable who pleaded guilty on Tuesday to driving with almost five times over the legal blood alcohol limit.
Joshua Douglas Compton, 30, was fined $1400 and disqualified for nine months when he faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court for having a 0.235 per cent BAC on the Sunshine Motorway at Marcoola around 1am on July 19.
Mr Compton, who was sworn into the police force in late 2006, was driving home from a mate's place when police saw him veer towards the incorrect side of the road.
Guideline sanctions for Queensland officers convicted of drink-driving, released in July, suggest he would be subjected to a demotion for driving with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.15% in a private vehicle while off duty.
Police say the constable's fate is now in the hands of the Ethical Standards Command.
Police said they could not comment while the internal investigation was under way.
Lawyer Adrian Braithwaite, from Gilshenan and Luton, made written submissions to the court and submitted references.
The document said Mr Compton was a surf lifesaver, was involved in Aboriginal dance productions in his teens, and had been an Aboriginal community liaison officer in NSW.
Mr Compton estimated he had had about 10 beers.
The document said he was "deeply ashamed of his decision-making" to drive "the short distance" home.
"As a result of the matter before the court, he has presently stood down from operational duties," it read.
"As a result of his conviction before the court he will face internal disciplinary proceedings for misconduct.
"Having regard to (police) guidelines, it will follow that... ramifications will be severe."
Magistrate John Parker said personal tragedies and family problems Mr Compton was suffering did not excuse his behaviour.
"I'm satisfied from what I've read that you are a man of good character other than having fallen into this situation," he said.
"You have a very good background. You have contributed greatly to surf lifesaving, other sports and Aboriginal culture.
"At the time this driving took place, you had suffered a number of personal tragedies in your life and problems in your family.
"It does not excuse it but does help explain.
"It is a high reading. You had no right to drive a vehicle with that amount of alcohol in your blood."
Friends and colleagues talked in references about Mr Compton mentoring indigenous youths and how he felt he had let down Queensland Police Service and the Aboriginal community.
"I have personally witnessed the rapport he has developed with local youth and his effortless ability to communicate with people from all backgrounds, ages and social standings," one colleague said.
A fellow police officer and friend said in a reference that Mr Compton "was extremely embarrassed and remorseful for his actions".

Re: Drink driving
 

One of the reasons I left my job at Maccas(yes,yes I know.....but it was a case of anything to get a foot on the job ladder) was because the maddening amount of stoned/drunk people who were barely able to sit upright coming through. I quietly reported a fair few...but as people say nothing was thought wrong of it and when I suggested I might report these drivers it was considered very 'unaustralian' and 'why would you bother' kind of attitude *sigh*

It makes me quite mad and quite frankly scared when I think of my Husband(not to mention me and the kids) out there on the roads with these people each day.......but they just don't seem to get it and it is very normal to drink and drive. You will often see people swigging from beer bottles or 'mixer' cans whilst driving, especially on a Friday arvo.

Controvertial/Sweeping generalisationist as it may be I feel it goes hand in hand with the low IQ/ Convict genes.....

Jan (takes cover with tin hat firmly on head)

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The biggest difference for me is the way the ban is often for a short while and not for what, a year, like in the UK.

Would not say the culture of drink driving is any greater in my experience. Noone I work with pays lip service or jokes about it.

People will drink a light beer though - and I don't have an issue with people cannily working out their personal limit providing they are sensible. If you drank a half in the UK you'd be labelled a poof.

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you must work with different "average" people to me.

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Yeah maybe. Weird how other people have experienced the same thing though eh?

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Do you know it is not Illeagle , to drive in south Australia or victoria with an alcholic beverage in your hand, or consuming same.
The offence occurs when you exceed the legal [.o5] limit, so you are quite ok if you call into the bottolo and grab a "Roadie" for the trip home.........mm:rofl::rofl:

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We visited Perth on a recci last October & on two separate occasions both me & my OH were stopped & had breath tests :eek: One on a Sunday afternoon the other evening time.... I really didnt mind as we hadn't had anything to drink nor would I ever drink & drive :frown: I have been driving over 20 years here in the UK & NEVER been stopped for random breath testing!
Trouble with people who drink & drive is that they never kill themselves its always some innocent bystander & I know this from experience, twice infact :frown::frown::frown:

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Radio woke me up this morning with a story about a lady who was about to get in her car in the pub carpark and she was 8 times over the limit ! :eek:
:eek:

I mean, wtf?

Em x