should drink drivers be banned

[damian_steele]

I can understand what you are saying. And as a parent that is a difficult decision to make.
But on the way to the hospital he could have run someone over or crashed the car and killed his daughter, because he was over the limit at the end of the day, and wasn't safe to drive

So, would you just sit back and allow one of your kids to die in front of you or would you also take the risk and drive?

[silkcityuk2]

Seems that the majority want an absolute blanket result with no room for consideration of the circumstances. Hardly a surprise there. Good job you lot aren't judges, isn't it?

A mate of mine lives well out into the sticks. There's nothing round his place for almost twenty miles. Nearest hospital is something like 35 miles. Two years ago his little girl fell off a wall and gashed her leg open quite deeply. She was pouring with blood. He'd already had a couple of cans of beer and was technically over the limit. Should he:

1. Have waited for around 30 - 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive then subjected his girl to the long ride back to the hospital and possibly have her die.

2. Have tried to deal with this quite serious medical emergency with a couple of tea towels, some gaffer tape and a few days in bed, then probably have her die from infection.

3. Taken the risk and driven her straight to the hospital, thereby probably saving her life?

According to most of you lot he should not have done number 3 or he would then be breaking the law and immediately sentenced to a year in prison (minimum).

So, sometimes there is an excuse for drink driving and a blanket ruling regardless of circumstances is a bad idea.

so in your opinion it would have been ok to drive if he had drunk 6 pints?

and very doubtfull she would have died from loss of blood for 45 mins

who said anything about being jailed , the punishment should fit the crime
so if the bloke/woman totally legless and behind the wheel
yes jail them
but if they have only had 2 or 3 pints
loss of licence for a while
just my opinion

[mazhells]

as from July the 1st you can get a £50 spot fine if caught smoking while driving ? where is the Justis in this when killers who drink drive are allowed to get back behind the wheel I'm sure the police services would be better used if they had a list of these drink drivers and kept a eye open for them instead of stopping smokers to get there £50

[damian_steele]

so in your opinion it would have been ok to drive if he had drunk 6 pints?

You're misunderstanding my point. I'm saying that instead of the blanket response "You're over the limit, therefore you're going to jail", the circumstances need to be considered. So no, if he'd had six pints he probably would have been more of a danger to his kid by driving than by waiting for the medics.

and very doubtfull she would have died from loss of blood for 45 mins

You should work for the NHS, you'd save them a packet. A medical opinion based on a badly described, second-hand story. Perhaps you should start diagnosis by telephone?

who said anything about being jailed

Read the thread.

the punishment should fit the crime

That's very nearly what I already said.

just my opinion

And not too far away from my own.

[silkcityuk2]

You're misunderstanding my point. I'm saying that instead of the blanket response "You're over the limit, therefore you're going to jail", the circumstances need to be considered. So no, if he'd had six pints he probably would have been more of a danger to his kid by driving than by waiting for the medics.



You should work for the NHS, you'd save them a packet. A medical opinion based on a badly described, second-hand story. Perhaps you should start diagnosis by telephone?



Read the thread.



That's very nearly what I already said.



And not too far away from my own.

but if its to risky to wait for ambulance the amount he drunk should make no differance

yes i agree with blanket ban on drink driving
no prison for being 1 over the limit is just plain daft

i do see what you are saying in the big picture

[silkcityuk2]

as from July the 1st you can get a £50 spot fine if caught smoking while driving ? where is the Justis in this when killers who drink drive are allowed to get back behind the wheel I'm sure the police services would be better used if they had a list of these drink drivers and kept a eye open for them instead of stopping smokers to get there £50

too right
smoking is just as bad as talking on a mobile phone

[damian_steele]

but if its to risky to wait for ambulance the amount he drunk should make no differance

Of course it should. It's about risk management; weighing up which option is least risky. Driving after two cans is obviously less risky than driving after six cans.

[silkcityuk2]

Of course it should. It's about risk management; weighing up which option is least risky. Driving after two cans is obviously less risky than driving after six cans.

then the outcome should be the same
wait for the ambulance
in my opinion

[damian_steele]

then the outcome should be the same
wait for the ambulance
in my opinion

Silky, honestly now. Are you AS drunk after 2 cans as you would be after 6?

The answer is, quite obviously, no.

Therefore, there is a lower level of impairment - still some, but far less - than after drinking more booze. So, whilst there is still some risk, it is obviously less when drinking the smaller amount.

So my mate balanced that lower level of risk against the need for get his kid seen quickly. In his opinion at the time, and mine now, waiting for the medics would have present a higher level of risk to his kid than driving when he did.

If presented with the same situation it's possible you would have made a different decision, but I doubt it.

[silkcityuk2]

Silky, honestly now. Are you AS drunk after 2 cans as you would be after 6?

The answer is, quite obviously, no.

Therefore, there is a lower level of impairment - still some, but far less - than after drinking more booze. So, whilst there is still some risk, it is obviously less when drinking the smaller amount.

So my mate balanced that lower level of risk against the need for get his kid seen quickly. In his opinion at the time, and mine now, waiting for the medics would have present a higher level of risk to his kid than driving when he did.

If presented with the same situation it's possible you would have made a different decision, but I doubt it.

if it really was a matter of life and death
then i would drive a child to hospital with 2 or 6 pints in me
rightly or wrongly
but thats me
and i would take whatever punishment that dished out