Three drinks and you're out...

**riffer** · 4th December 2003, 10:29

A plan to almost halve the drink-driving limit could push some drinkers over the edge after just three small glasses of wine.

Notwithstanding the fact most recidivist drink drivers drink way more than the limit already, I think maybe its time we stop messing about with stupid limits and just say NO ALCOHOL and driving/riding.

For experience, I believe even one beer makes a difference to my riding.

What do you all think? Or is it just another attack on our civil liberties?

**Jackrat** · 4th December 2003, 10:37

Your on to it mate,why muck about?
I really don,t want to share the road with anybody with any amount of alcohol in their system.
OH, civil libertys,Bugger!!

**Motoracer** · 4th December 2003, 10:41

Yea, I wouldn't have a problem with "No alcohol at all" while driving/riding but there was that one question. If there were no limits, medications such as a cough syrup could set off the trigger. Not to mention comming home after dinning on a meal that contained some alcohol. eg wine.

**bluninja** · 4th December 2003, 10:59

Would I be OK with ginger beer?

**jrandom** · 4th December 2003, 11:45

Well, I've been guilty of riding after a beer or two within a couple of hours prior

And it *does* affect my riding. I don't think it has much to do with civil liberties though. Apart from governmental incompetence, the way it's supposed to work is of course that we, the taxpayers, fund a roading system, and then a majority of us decide (by elected proxy) the minimum requirements any individual has to meet to use the system.

I for one would be happy to stipulate that nobody could use it without an effectively zero blood level of any psychoactive chemicals. Of course in my perfect world that would be a minor footnote under the vastly different licensing and driving ability requirements so I really can't be arsed giving a f*ck one way or the other as things go at the moment.

**riffer** · 4th December 2003, 12:00

I understand where you are coming from Motoracer, but my point is - what is the difference between 3 beers and 4 beers?

The point is, alcohol makes you worse behind the wheel. Just one drink can take that 'edge' off and just slows you down enough to make the difference.

Which for me, if I'm piloting 210 kilos and 100 hp down the road, is a bit of a worry.

Cough syrup has quite specific instructions on it - don't drive or operate heavy machinery within x hours of taking this medication - it's BECAUSE of the alcohol they say that.

Those who grew up in the Hutt Valley and were teenagers in the early - mid 80s probably remember what Thursday nights used to be like - I don't know how I survived - drunk racing down Oxford Terrace (Naenae) and hooning down LH carpark.

Only drug I put in my system before I ride now is insulin but I can't help that one.

It still makes me mighty cautious on the road though.

BTW, are there any other insulin-dependent diabetics on KB?

Motoracer said:

Yea, I wouldn't have a problem with "No alcohol at all" while driving/riding but there was that one question. If there were no limits, medications such as a cough syrup could set off the trigger. Not to mention comming home after dinning on a meal that contained some alcohol. eg wine.

**750Y** · 4th December 2003, 15:37

I have no problem at all with a no alcohol in the system law(or at least a negligible amount possibly remainder from a couple the night before). the laws will continue to be broken but maybe less often & that'll keep everyone safer on the roads. I really worry about riders who ride pissed. I'm doing my bit to keep the roads safe by staying stone cold sober.

**Lou Girardin** · 9th December 2003, 09:37

Only one fatal accident last year was attributed to a blood/alcohol level below 80 mcg's and there are, invariably, other factors. Do you guys really want to affect the livelyhood of thousands of people to try to save that one life?
Personally, I've never come close to an accident after having a meal with a couple of wines.
Do you also realise that offenders between 50 and 80 mcg's will receive an instant fine?
More revenue anyone?
Lou

**k14** · 9th December 2003, 11:27

That is exactly the reason for doing it. Is there ever anything the pigs do that isnt motivated by money??

I dont really care that it is coming down cause i have never drank and drove nor i ever will. I think it is more to come in line with other countries. We do have a pretty high tolerance compared to other countries.

**James Deuce** · 9th December 2003, 11:44

Originally posted by Lou Girardin
Only one fatal accident last year was attributed to a blood/alcohol level below 80 mcg's and there are, invariably, other factors. Do you guys really want to affect the livelyhood of thousands of people to try to save that one life?
Personally, I've never come close to an accident after having a meal with a couple of wines.
Do you also realise that offenders between 50 and 80 mcg's will receive an instant fine?
More revenue anyone?
Lou

Be that as it may, when I was in the Survivors MC, we had an event called the great steinlager experiment. One, and One only stubby of Steinlager was enough to make otherwise competent motorcyclists fall off the "see-saw" that they had ridden a kwaka KH100 over easily before drinking the beer. There were a vast number of other obstacles and "slow" races and all they did was confirm for me that the teeniest amount of alcohol, irrespective of size or gender is enough to impair your mental agility. Simple tasks became irritating and complex ones impossible and all before people had consumed anything that could be regarded as the approaching the current limit.

Alcohol, marijuana, P, ecstasy - they all mess with your brain chemistry. Some people are affected more readily than others and the only way to avoid some hitting their personal limit while being under the "legal" limit is zero tolerance for the use of mind altering substances whilst piloting any vehicle. There are always mitigating circumstances in any Motor Vehicle "Accident" (despite the fact that there is no such thing as an "accident" in regard to vehicles. Someone always did something to cause it, including mechanical failures, single vehicle accidents, and medical events while at the wheel.) so why would it be acceptable to add altered brain chemistry to the list, even if it was "legal" to do so?

**Jackrat** · 9th December 2003, 13:22

Errrrrrr,Lou,how does lowering the ac, limit effect anyones livelyhood??.
And in answer to your Question,,Yeah bloody oath!!.
Why should anybody die so somebody can make money??
Would it Make a diffrence if that ONE PERSON was you???

**georgedubyabush** · 9th December 2003, 13:30

Originally posted by Jackrat
Errrrrrr,Lou,how does lowering the ac, limit effect anyones livelyhood??.
And in answer to your Question,,Yeah bloody oath!!.
Why should anybody die so somebody can make money??
Would it Make a diffrence if that ONE PERSON was you???

The small country pub, already on the decline...

**Jackrat** · 9th December 2003, 15:01

In Australia they have this limit and no pubs are closing.
I was with my brother in a small country pub not long ago,I did notice that a lot of the patrons were not just a bit tippsy,but total pissed.They don,t give a damn now,they won,t next year.
All I know is that I don,t wish to be,THE ONE.

**Nouseforaname** · 9th December 2003, 19:15

2 years ago my dad was pulled over and failed a breath test, went back to the cop shop and failed the test again, he wasnt very far over the limit so you know what the cops did... they said "hey mate, your not really the type of person we are trying to target so we are gona let you off" and they gave him a ride home..... can you fuckin believe that?

Believe me..... it is true

Even though he is my dad, i was so pissed that the cops did that, they should have thrown the book at him for being such a idiot.

**matt420** · 10th December 2003, 06:51

Originally posted by celticno6
I understand where you are coming from Motoracer, but my point is - what is the difference between 3 beers and 4 beers?

The point is, alcohol makes you worse behind the wheel. Just one drink can take that 'edge' off and just slows you down enough to make the difference.

Which for me, if I'm piloting 210 kilos and 100 hp down the road, is a bit of a worry.

Cough syrup has quite specific instructions on it - don't drive or operate heavy machinery within x hours of taking this medication - it's BECAUSE of the alcohol they say that.

Those who grew up in the Hutt Valley and were teenagers in the early - mid 80s probably remember what Thursday nights used to be like - I don't know how I survived - drunk racing down Oxford Terrace (Naenae) and hooning down LH carpark.

Only drug I put in my system before I ride now is insulin but I can't help that one.

It still makes me mighty cautious on the road though.

BTW, are there any other insulin-dependent diabetics on KB?