Restricting Young Drivers

[kkynaston]

I also dont agree with the zero tolerance. They could easily fail a test if they've had just a few pints the night before or eaten some food with small ammounts of alcohol in.

You point being?
Any amount of alcohol/controlled substance affects judgement and actions.
If I have a session the night before, I don't drive until well into the afternoon the next day.
Ok I see your point about foodstuffs with alcohol but the same rules apply now.
(No I wasn't drinking officer I have been eating choocolate liquers so I'm OK)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Any amount of alcohol/controlled substance affects judgement and actions.

So does being tired, digesting a meal, smoking a cigarette, listening to the radio, chatting to passengers, looking at a map/satnav, thinking about job/family issues....

The point is we have to strike a balance between reasonable risks and practicality - we don't live to drive, we drive to live.

There is an excellent case for reducing the limit for everyone, but a zero one is impractical - to get down to zero takes a long time, and people regain full competence to drive well before their BAC has dropped to zero.

If I have a session the night before, I don't drive until well into the afternoon the next day.

A session, yes, but when on the next day would you feel happy to drive after, say, 3 pints between 8 and 10 in the evening?

 

[kkynaston]

Ok I see your point BAS,
It just winds me up to see all the 'old boys' down 6 or 7 pints then jump into their brand new audi's and range rovers and drive home, straight past a patrol car.

 

[empip]

Step aside slow coacheees...

...9.4 secs for the 0-100mph-0 sprint. The GTR scorched from 0-60mph in 2.6 secs, 0-100mph in 5.3 secs and braked to zero from 100mph in a mind blowing 3.6 secs...
This is very serious - no traction control or abs... Action starts 1 min or so into the short video..
mms://netshow.inetc.net/ultimasports/UltimaRecord2006.wmv

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ok I see your point BAS,
It just winds me up to see all the 'old boys' down 6 or 7 pints then jump into their brand new audi's and range rovers and drive home, straight past a patrol car.

There is an age group (dwindling, fortunately) whose drink-driving habits were established before breathalysers and hard-and-fast blood/alcohol limits who have never taken any notice of the law.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

...9.4 secs for the 0-100mph-0 sprint. The GTR scorched from 0-60mph in 2.6 secs, 0-100mph in 5.3 secs and braked to zero from 100mph in a mind blowing 3.6 secs...

Yes but it's got a 6.3l V8, so not an example of a 1l or less car that makes a mockery of the notion of restricting young drivers to small-engined cars...

 

[Adam_151]

There is an age group (dwindling, fortunately) whose drink-driving habits were established before breathalysers and hard-and-fast blood/alcohol limits who have never taken any notice of the law.

And perhaps folks from the other side of the world: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...liceman-for-a-ride-in-city-of-Khabarovsk.html

"If you are drunk you should only drive slowly and carefully, although it is better if you do not drink at all."

Though from what I've heard about some parts of Russia... it wouldn't matter much, there is not a lot to hit anyway, you can go for days and days without passing through a village

 

[JamesA]

Make them get the bus

Seriously though, pricing young people out of having a car so they use public transport would be a good way forward.
They can always learn driving as a skill in their parent's car.

 

[kkynaston]

If I were still living at my parents house I would be stuffed
Even here in Drayton I don't think they run that well often
(Mind you I haven't been on a bus in 6 years)

2 buses a week leaving at 10am wed and fri, returning at 2pm in Sambrook
You can't rely on public transport in the countryside

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You can't rely on public transport in the countryside

You can, provided you only want to travel 2 days a week, leaving at 10 and returning at 2.

Ar you any relation to the organist, BTW?

 

[ben_m_g]

Another no from me, to be frank it's a rather stupid idea.

I myself drive a fairly rapid car

Do I recklessly speed? no, Am I an increased danger because of it? no

I'm 22 with a clean licence and no crashes at my fault.

I know i'm in the minority here of good young drivers but resticting people on age is bsh*t.
Now if it was like motorbikes start out on something small like a 1000cc car, and the if you want something faster you could take another competence test then that would make a lot of sense.

But restricting someone for potentially 8 years? lunacy! it hurts all young people, and i bet joy-riding / motor theft would increase to boot!

I know some pretty stupid, irresponsible drivers in there 30's, 40's and older I do know a few amazing young drivers.

After all skill and knowledge does not purely come from age but experience aswell.

/end rant.

 

[JohnD]

Do I recklessly speed? no, Am I an increased danger because of it? no...

... and no crashes at my fault.

I know i'm in the minority here of good young drivers...

of course, they all think that

 

[joe-90]

and no crashes at my fault.

So you've had crashes then? How many?

 

[kkynaston]

Ar you any relation to the organist, BTW?

No I don't think so, but apparentely I am a relation to this guy:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/features/halloween/kynaston.shtml

On the young drivers and crashes thing, I've had 3 in 5 years,

First was my fault, slid on some gravel round a corner on a country lane straight into a field. Car was stuck but I knew the guy that owned the field. When I rang him he just said "you know where the massey is (and this was midnight on a Friday night)

Second, a scooter came straight off a pedestrian area into my back quarter panel.

Third, blow out on a company car last year, ended up in a hedge

 

[JohnD]

In the last ten years I haven't had any crashes that weren't my fault

(or any that were)

Funny, that.