zzrmark

I have found driving after 9pm an 'interesting' experience on Floridian roads!!

Two nights before we got married, my wife and I were prepping the venue and she got a phone call from a work colleague. She and another friend of ours had been out for some drinks and the other friend had overdone the drink, so could she bring her round to our place. No problem, we think, how very responsible. They duly turn up... about an hour later I chance to look out on the street and see both vehicles????

Turns out the 'way over the limit' friend (as in barely standing) had driven back with the 'conscientious' friend (who herself was about 6 drinks merrier than she should have been) tailing her like some kind of vanguard....

The pair of them were ripped off a strip by my wife and several other guests the next day (all USC's) - they were very contrite and as far as I know, to this day, still go out, get pissed and drive home...

Redwing

When I lived on the NE side of Atlanta, about 15 years ago, it seemed that every other week, there was a wrong way wreck on the downtown connector in the early hours of the morning. The report would often add that alcohol was involved.

Pulaski

Same in the greater Charlotte area 10-15 years ago, but now we rarely hear about it. I am not sure what has changed. Back then the pattern was usually a combination of alcohol and a matricula.

Guindalf

You CAN get a DUI on a bike, you know?

...and a ride-on lawnmower, et al.

Pulaski

I seem to recall hearing of someone being ticketed for being drunk on a "mobility scooter".

TopSec

I thought about this thread last night ...

I left a friends house in a subdivision at about 21:30, came out in right lane to turn right, lights on green. No idea what or how it happened but I thought a car in the 'turn left on arrow' lane across the road was at my side so in that split moment I thought 'shit, I'm on the wrong side!). I shot across in front of him and turned right into the oncoming traffic lane, there was a car coming towards me so I shot behind the stationary car and across in front of the oncoming car and back to where I should be!!

Honestly I nearly died of shock Those poor people in their cars must have wondered what the hell? It was a busy'ish road that was quiet at the time though.

I had absolutely no excuse for what I did, no alcohol was involved though.

We do split our time between UK and USA so often have those split second moments when you think "which side of the road" but never has something like that happened. If it had been busy I dread to think, but then again if it had been busy I would have just been following the car in front!

Pulaski

There is always that limiting factor, that wrong way accidents rarely occur on busy roads because even drunks and the confused/ senile can usually follow other cars when the roads are busy.

TopSec

Are you calling me confused/senile I was certainly confused!! It makes my stomach turn thinking about it now

You're right though, in the UK where I drive on some country back roads I sometimes have to do that split second double think rather than here in Houston!

SultanOfSwing

I'm glad it's not just me. Though I can never make sense of why I do it.

On the drink driving thing, I'm starting to think if we were to start setting up minicab firms across the country, we'd make a killing

Nutek

I thought that was the bit we were trying to avoid.

SultanOfSwing

Unfortunate wording, maybe?

Nutek

My one and only serious car crash was when we had a designated driver, much to my mothers annoyance (cos I never let her forget it).

Yorkieabroad

Cue the plug for A2B cabs Katy, set up by a Brit expat for that very reason We are regular customers.............

It was something we had talked about for a few years, but never got round to actually doing anything about it, mainly because my mates all have proper jobs, and I'd rather be on the other side of the "get you home pissed" delivery system.....

SultanOfSwing

Yes! Maybe it will spread, as there is absolutely the market for it. None of that online, you might get driven out into a field, bummed then killed, uber crap, either.

Yorkieabroad

Yeah, she started as a 1 car operation, now has 4 cars, but only works Thursday - Saturday as a cab service. The rest of the week it is more like pre-booked private hire runs to the airport and the like, and a surprising (her words) number of kid drop offs at evening activities. Reckons the evening pub-run business is almost exclusively expats.