F'wit drunks on our roads. (Is there any other kind of drunk driver?)

[BiK3RChiK]

If they're going to start crushing the boy-racer's cars, how about including racidivist drink-driver's cars as well? I doubt the boy racer's are any more dangerous than drink-drivers, so why not? And while they're at it, cars that are unregistered, unwarranted and downright dangerous. I'm sure no-one would argue that there are cars on the road that are simply an accident waiting to happen, (bit like some driver's really...).

What a grand idea! Bling diddly bling...

Shame about the ones who do crush their own cars though and others with it!

[oldrider]

If I had rep powers I'd bling this

I will bling him for you!

What happened to your powers, did you swallow some krypton?

[Edbear]

What a grand idea! Bling diddly bling...

Shame about the ones who do crush their own cars though and others with it!

Yup. Automatic manslaughter charge and recidivist drink-drivers causing death consider the murder charge...

If I had rep powers I'd bling this

I will bling him for you!

What happened to your powers, did you swallow some krypton?

Awww shucks! Twernt nuthin really...

[Genestho]

What a grand idea! Bling diddly bling...

Shame about the ones who do crush their own cars though and others with it!

Agreed!!!!!

It's an awesome general deterrent, and I support it, but it will not address recidivists.

And I'll tell you why.

The guy that drove in my husbands case was an "indefinately disqualified" driver, the car was lent by an expired license owner. He drove to work everyday.
He sat his license 2 years prior, and failed.

This man was an alchy, his liver was nailed, and he had a 20 year career of drink driving - who was going to drive - no matter what. Apart from locking away these types for good - which is not going to happen....we need to address the fact that alchys will drive.

Which is why Interlock devices were designed; to stop a driver when drunk, on the job 24/7, rolling retests etc (see a couple of pages back!) not having to rely on the police to catch and crush.

Police would be lucky to catch I think it's 50% of drink drivers?

[short-circuit]

I will bling him for you!

What happened to your powers, did you swallow some krypton?

Been a bad bad boy

[Edbear]

Agreed!!!!!

It's an awesome general deterrent, and I support it, but it will not address recidivists.

And I'll tell you why.

The guy that drove in my husbands case was an "indefinately disqualified" driver, the car was lent by an expired license owner. He drove to work everyday.
He sat his license 2 years prior, and failed.

This man was an alchy, his liver was nailed, and he had a 20 year career of drink driving - who was going to drive - no matter what. Apart from locking away these types for good - which is not going to happen....we need to address the fact that alchys will drive.

Which is why Interlock devices were designed; to stop a driver when drunk, on the job 24/7, rolling retests etc (see a couple of pages back!) not having to rely on the police to catch and crush.

Police would be lucky to catch I think it's 50% of drink drivers?

You're not wrong! I agree, such people will drive until they are physically prevented from doing so. Something for the courts to address. Forced rehab may be one avenue to try and break the addiction. Like gambling, it is an addiction that has to be recognised by the addict and they must then want to address it.

Short of locking them up indefinitely, it is not an easy issue to deal with.

[Genestho]

You're not wrong! I agree, such people will drive until they are physically prevented from doing so. Something for the courts to address. Forced rehab may be one avenue to try and break the addiction. Like gambling, it is an addiction that has to be recognised by the addict and they must then want to address it.

Short of locking them up indefinitely, it is not an easy issue to deal with.

Yep, that part is MOJ's and MOH's department..

What I do know for a fact, is we only assess (asessment is pre-requisit to any rehab option of course) 5% of all drink drivers, and (I think, the figure -off the top of my head is 42%) recidivists are typically being assessed on 4/5th conviction...so that needs to change.

Baring in mind technically a recidivist is 3 plus convictions, car crushing perhaps could come in a prior conviction?

I haven't looked into it too far...but will be!

[mister.koz]

Reckon guaranteed suspension for a couple of years 1st offence and jail time for 2nd offence all stacked up with hefty fines of realistic measure. 3rd time sterilization (save the gene pool people - especailly for gems like the one laava mentioned), psychiatric assessment and a public beating.

We had one up here about6yrs ago in Dargaville court. 1st offence, and he got jailtime. Actually it was national news at the time.

Why not cancel licenses indefinitely for re-offenders and jail time for subsequence drives?

Then we pool up our jails i guess... people need a realistic consequence thumped into them sometimes. I tell ya the memory of a serious accident with a drunk driver is enough for me, so then unrelated people suffer for some ignorant drunken fool, at least in my case the drunk driver was the only one injured really, i am guessing he wont do it again (mainly because i don't think he will be ABLE to drive again).

Legislation combined with political correctness and a "waaaa" attitude tends to take that consequence away and make it an irritation. Being irritated doesn't stop much.

[scumdog]

while they're at it, cars that are unregistered, unwarranted and downright dangerous. I'm sure no-one would argue that there are cars on the road that are simply an accident waiting to happen, (bit like some driver's really...).

Only they're rarely ever true 'accidents'...

[oldrider]

All my life I have lived with the adage, that "you can't put an old head on young shoulders".

Now that I have an "old head" it often occurs to me, that I really don't need to drink to enjoy myself and other people's company.

The fact that most alcoholic drinks make me feel so bad now that I prefer to avoid them, does help in coming to that realisation.

How do we change that mindset in the young without robbing them of the learning opportunities of life, that we had?

[Drew]

How do we change that mindset in the young without robbing them of the learning opportunities of life, that we had?

What an ironic question. You can only hope the younger generation, (even more ironic, you're in my fathers demographic), will learn from you.

[Genestho]

All my life I have lived with the adage, that "you can't put an old head on young shoulders".

Now that I have an "old head" it often occurs to me, that I really don't need to drink to enjoy myself and other people's company.

The fact that most alcoholic drinks make me feel so bad now that I prefer to avoid them, does help in coming to that realisation.

How do we change that mindset in the young without robbing them of the learning opportunities of life, that we had?

Yea, I guess you pass on what you know!
I've learnt alot in two years. I've alot about life in general. Pass it on John.. someone may learn

[ynot slow]

Was thinking about the older generation drinking.Dads mate who used to drink whiskey,would think nothing of having several drinks and heading off.He would drive many kms after a few and never get caught or crash,even do a pub crawl litterely from Palmy races to the Naki,and take about 3-4 hours to get home,stopping at Waitotara,Tuarakina,Waverley,Kai Iwi ,Wanganui to give an idea.

We did it 20-25yrs ago after soccer,have say 4 or 5 beers head home maybe 50minutes away,few more once home,never thought we were too pissed.Maybe it was harder to get picked up,i.e cops needed a reason to stop us,we kept to speed limits etc.

Then the generation say now 20-30 seem to accept not drinking/driving,lady I used to work with had no qualms driving at 2.30am Sunday morning to pick her son and mates up after rugby and pub,she thought at least they will get home safe,I thought these guys were pretty mature drinking wise for 20yr olds,and good on her for saying yes call for mums taxi anytime.

[Genestho]

Was thinking about the older generation drinking.Dads mate who used to drink whiskey,would think nothing of having several drinks and heading off.He would drive many kms after a few and never get caught or crash,even do a pub crawl litterely from Palmy races to the Naki,and take about 3-4 hours to get home,stopping at Waitotara,Tuarakina,Waverley,Kai Iwi ,Wanganui to give an idea.

We did it 20-25yrs ago after soccer,have say 4 or 5 beers head home maybe 50minutes away,few more once home,never thought we were too pissed.Maybe it was harder to get picked up,i.e cops needed a reason to stop us,we kept to speed limits etc.

Then the generation say now 20-30 seem to accept not drinking/driving,lady I used to work with had no qualms driving at 2.30am Sunday morning to pick her son and mates up after rugby and pub,she thought at least they will get home safe,I thought these guys were pretty mature drinking wise for 20yr olds,and good on her for saying yes call for mums taxi anytime.

Yea I used to be curled up in the backseat of Dads car, he would've been pissed - without a doubt.
I see it possible to encourage group sober driving, if not already in place

[BiK3RChiK]

Was thinking about the older generation drinking.Dads mate who used to drink whiskey,would think nothing of having several drinks and heading off.He would drive many kms after a few and never get caught or crash,even do a pub crawl litterely from Palmy races to the Naki,and take about 3-4 hours to get home,stopping at Waitotara,Tuarakina,Waverley,Kai Iwi ,Wanganui to give an idea.

We did it 20-25yrs ago after soccer,have say 4 or 5 beers head home maybe 50minutes away,few more once home,never thought we were too pissed.Maybe it was harder to get picked up,i.e cops needed a reason to stop us,we kept to speed limits etc.

Then the generation say now 20-30 seem to accept not drinking/driving,lady I used to work with had no qualms driving at 2.30am Sunday morning to pick her son and mates up after rugby and pub,she thought at least they will get home safe,I thought these guys were pretty mature drinking wise for 20yr olds,and good on her for saying yes call for mums taxi anytime.

I think there's a couple of things about that...

Firstly, the speed limit was lower; Cars were rather gutless in comparison to todays grunt machines; And, there were way fewer cars on the road than nowadays. Having said that, there never was and never will be an excuse for driving under the influence IMO.

Our kids are 15 and 16. The 16 year old has had his drivers license (car and bike) for about a year now. The 15 year old is busting her boiler to get both as well. We often tell them that if they need a ride home when they go out, then call us and we will pick them up no matter the hour. They have some motivation to obey.... I was the innocent party in a motor vehicle accident involving a drunk driver some 21 years ago and live with constant pain from the accident. I hope that they will never have to go through that. Also, I think that to a certain extent, those ads on tv have some influence on them..