Drinking and driving
#1
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,094
Drinking and driving
Its that time of year again - and the police have a new toy !
The drink drive limit in Hungary, as you all probably know, is zero. This year it seems that the police are out in force with their new toy. It's a breathalyser that you blow AT rather than through and takes seconds to do.
A couple of weeks back I was stopped in Sumeg and yesterday SWMBO was stopped in Tapolca. The test is so quick that every car is stopped, we both passed because neither of us drink and drive, however I heard a report that at one test site 17% of drivers failed - that I consider outrageous.
So just a reminder that in Hungary the limit is zero and the police have a new toy that (it would seem) they are determined to put to full use !!
The drink drive limit in Hungary, as you all probably know, is zero. This year it seems that the police are out in force with their new toy. It's a breathalyser that you blow AT rather than through and takes seconds to do.
A couple of weeks back I was stopped in Sumeg and yesterday SWMBO was stopped in Tapolca. The test is so quick that every car is stopped, we both passed because neither of us drink and drive, however I heard a report that at one test site 17% of drivers failed - that I consider outrageous.
So just a reminder that in Hungary the limit is zero and the police have a new toy that (it would seem) they are determined to put to full use !!
#2
Re: Drinking and driving
17% actually appears quite low to me, based purely on my personal circle of acquaintances!
But then two are wives of police officers and some play sports with officers also.
Since I don't drink any more this will not be a problem for me, though I do welcome anything which improves the safety of the roads.
As a slight aside, there was an accident here a couple of weeks ago when a couple of hunters were returning from the forest and were hit on a train crossing, fatal of course. Being local and well aware that we only have one train per hour alcohol had something to do with the unfortunate result.
But then two are wives of police officers and some play sports with officers also.
Since I don't drink any more this will not be a problem for me, though I do welcome anything which improves the safety of the roads.
As a slight aside, there was an accident here a couple of weeks ago when a couple of hunters were returning from the forest and were hit on a train crossing, fatal of course. Being local and well aware that we only have one train per hour alcohol had something to do with the unfortunate result.
#3
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 413
Re: Drinking and driving
Its that time of year again - and the police have a new toy !
The drink drive limit in Hungary, as you all probably know, is zero. This year it seems that the police are out in force with their new toy. It's a breathalyser that you blow AT rather than through and takes seconds to do.
A couple of weeks back I was stopped in Sumeg and yesterday SWMBO was stopped in Tapolca. The test is so quick that every car is stopped, we both passed because neither of us drink and drive, however I heard a report that at one test site 17% of drivers failed - that I consider outrageous.
So just a reminder that in Hungary the limit is zero and the police have a new toy that (it would seem) they are determined to put to full use !!
The drink drive limit in Hungary, as you all probably know, is zero. This year it seems that the police are out in force with their new toy. It's a breathalyser that you blow AT rather than through and takes seconds to do.
A couple of weeks back I was stopped in Sumeg and yesterday SWMBO was stopped in Tapolca. The test is so quick that every car is stopped, we both passed because neither of us drink and drive, however I heard a report that at one test site 17% of drivers failed - that I consider outrageous.
So just a reminder that in Hungary the limit is zero and the police have a new toy that (it would seem) they are determined to put to full use !!
#4
Banned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 236
Re: Drinking and driving
Zero is pretty low - I wonder how much the fines are for 0-80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood? Presumably gets higher the higher your number. (Lower level infringement meaning it's an infraction not a criminal offence.)
Most of Europe has 0.05% - whereas UK is 0.08%.
In Hungary, of course, Hungary makes the laws. When they visit us, my wife's rellies are scrupulous about not drinking alcohol if they're driving, the worst I've seen in 20 years is my bro in law having a tinny (on rare occasion in the summer, 2) - but then they stay another 5 or 6 hours so it's disappeared from his system anyway before driving. But after my nephew's first wedding this year (the first one being the legal ceremony), we were all back at his parents' house & I must say many people who had to drive later had a glass or 2 of wine and a half measure of palinka.
In our village I think people are a bit more laissez faire about strict observance. Although I only go there very rarely, there's a kocsma down the road and that often has lines of cars parked outside, I doubt if they're drinking mineral water.
Most of Europe has 0.05% - whereas UK is 0.08%.
In Hungary, of course, Hungary makes the laws. When they visit us, my wife's rellies are scrupulous about not drinking alcohol if they're driving, the worst I've seen in 20 years is my bro in law having a tinny (on rare occasion in the summer, 2) - but then they stay another 5 or 6 hours so it's disappeared from his system anyway before driving. But after my nephew's first wedding this year (the first one being the legal ceremony), we were all back at his parents' house & I must say many people who had to drive later had a glass or 2 of wine and a half measure of palinka.
In our village I think people are a bit more laissez faire about strict observance. Although I only go there very rarely, there's a kocsma down the road and that often has lines of cars parked outside, I doubt if they're drinking mineral water.
#5
Re: Drinking and driving
I was involved in an incident a few months ago on my way to work and the police officer produced a breathaliser where I merely had to say my name infront of it. I wasn't sure if it would register any alcohol in my blood stream if, for example, I'd had a drink the previous evening, only alcohol in my breathe from a recent alcoholic drink.
#6
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Joined: May 2015
Location: Near the Black Forest and near Esztergom
Posts: 923
Re: Drinking and driving
Peter, the same happened to my brother in law on his way back to Munich this autumn.
Saturday morning around half past ten on the 4-lane road to Zalaégerszég - every car was stopped!
I wonder what happened to all those who had a pálinka (or two ...) for breakfast which seems to be quite common - in Hévíz we have a kocsma that opens at seven o'clock!
It's in a cellar near the old locomotive just across from OTP - and often going to the bank in themorning it seems full ...
Saturday morning around half past ten on the 4-lane road to Zalaégerszég - every car was stopped!
I wonder what happened to all those who had a pálinka (or two ...) for breakfast which seems to be quite common - in Hévíz we have a kocsma that opens at seven o'clock!
It's in a cellar near the old locomotive just across from OTP - and often going to the bank in themorning it seems full ...
#7
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Re: Drinking and driving
[QUOTE=wolfi;12608445
I wonder what happened to all those who had a pálinka (or two ...) for breakfast which seems to be quite common - in Hévíz we have a kocsma that opens at seven o'clock!.[/QUOTE]
They get nicked !!
The road block I met in Sumeg was at 14:30 on a Friday. There were a fair few cars parked at the side of the road! Anyone know the expression POETS as related to Fridays? well it often starts with a visit to the pub!
I wonder what happened to all those who had a pálinka (or two ...) for breakfast which seems to be quite common - in Hévíz we have a kocsma that opens at seven o'clock!.[/QUOTE]
They get nicked !!
The road block I met in Sumeg was at 14:30 on a Friday. There were a fair few cars parked at the side of the road! Anyone know the expression POETS as related to Fridays? well it often starts with a visit to the pub!
#8
Banned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 236
Re: Drinking and driving
I was forgetting that Scotland reduced its drink drive limit 4 years ago. News today:
A team from the University of Glasgow found that the lowering of the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers in Scotland in 2014 had no impact on the number of accidents.
Research published in The Lancet evaluated the impact of the change in Scottish law in December 2014, when the blood alcohol limit for drivers was reduced from 80 milligrams per decilitre to 50.
Weekly accident rates were relatively stable, with between five and nine accidents per 1,000 traffic count in Scotland between Jan 1 2013 and Jan 31 2016.
In England and Wales, the number was similar, said the study, produced jointly by Glasgow and East Anglia universities, the NHS and the University of Stirling.
Prof Jim Lewsey, of Glasgow University, said: “It’s surprising, given what we know from previous international evidence, which generally supports a reduction of RTAS [accidents] following the same lowering of a blood alcohol concentration limit. But the results of our high-quality study are unequivocal. They indicate the reduction in Scotland’s drink-drive limit in December 2014 simply did not have the intended effect.” This could be because the change in legislation was not backed up by police enforcement and media publicity campaigns, he added.
It was reported on Tuesday that roadside breath tests had fallen to a record low as forces scaled back patrols. Roadside breath tests fell 15 per cent last year to 325,000, down from a peak of 670,000 in 2009.
Study shows law change in Scotland did little to lessen ‘the daily carnage’
CUTTING the drink drive limit would not reduce accidents on our roads, researchers have concluded.A team from the University of Glasgow found that the lowering of the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers in Scotland in 2014 had no impact on the number of accidents.
Research published in The Lancet evaluated the impact of the change in Scottish law in December 2014, when the blood alcohol limit for drivers was reduced from 80 milligrams per decilitre to 50.
Weekly accident rates were relatively stable, with between five and nine accidents per 1,000 traffic count in Scotland between Jan 1 2013 and Jan 31 2016.
In England and Wales, the number was similar, said the study, produced jointly by Glasgow and East Anglia universities, the NHS and the University of Stirling.
Prof Jim Lewsey, of Glasgow University, said: “It’s surprising, given what we know from previous international evidence, which generally supports a reduction of RTAS [accidents] following the same lowering of a blood alcohol concentration limit. But the results of our high-quality study are unequivocal. They indicate the reduction in Scotland’s drink-drive limit in December 2014 simply did not have the intended effect.” This could be because the change in legislation was not backed up by police enforcement and media publicity campaigns, he added.
It was reported on Tuesday that roadside breath tests had fallen to a record low as forces scaled back patrols. Roadside breath tests fell 15 per cent last year to 325,000, down from a peak of 670,000 in 2009.
#11
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 236
Re: Drinking and driving
I must confess I fell asleep briefly at our summer village Cigany Tolalkozo, not that I fell over or anything. Just a brief doze at the table after a long day working in the garden
#13
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Posts: 2,767
Re: Drinking and driving
I once ended up in Horsham. At the time I was living in Surbiton and had gone by train to Redhill via Clapham Junction to meet up with friends at a pub. On the way home I fell asleep before reaching Clapham Junction and was still asleep when the train departed London Victoria. I woke up at Horsham Station only to see the last train after midnight head to London Victoria. I didn't know anyone in Horsham so had to wait outside the station for the next train some six hours later. Suffice to say, despite the station being closed and it being after midnight there were quite a few mothers/fathers coming to pick up their son/daughter ..... I don't think they sussed their kids hadn't gone up to London .... they'd gone somewhere local!!!! Suffice to say they were all sympathetic to my predicament and sat down with me for a chat and smoke. Luckily it was summer so wasn't too cold during the night.