Drunken Driving offence

[simon]

Have to say that whilst I completely agree with most comments on this thread about DD.

But I find it hard that a few posters are so self righteous about DD when I bet all have been speeding at one time or another which in it owns self is just as dangerous and if they got busted it would be "just a simple mistake".

Brendan made a mistake, which is inexcusable, but all these getting on their high horses about it could they honestly say they have never been driving over the speed limit?

[Bavarian]

But I find it hard that a few posters are so self righteous about DD when I bet all have been speeding at one time or another which in it owns self is just as dangerous and if they got busted it would be "just a simple mistake".

It depends on whether the law is "driving at unsafe speeds", or just going faster than an arbitrary limit. After all, the environmentalists are already trying to propagandize that we have to lower the speed limits in order to reduce "emissions".

In response to the oil embargo of 1973, the US Federal government cajoled the states into reducing speed limits to 55MPH (~90 km/h) under threat of losing federal transportation funding. This, even though the interstates were designed to be safe at speeds in the 110-120 km/h range. Needless to say, the people hated the change.

If I'm not mistaken, decreases in traffic fatalities here in the States have been largely due to better car design and increased use of safety belts, and not lowering speed limits.

[karel]

But I find it hard that a few posters are so self righteous about DD when I bet all have been speeding at one time or another which in it owns self is just as dangerous and if they got busted it would be "just a simple mistake".

Brendan made a mistake, which is inexcusable, but all these getting on their high horses about it could they honestly say they have never been driving over the speed limit?

Willingly driving under influence (of whatever substance) is hardly comparable with driving 90 where 80 is the limit (where effectively 90 on the speedometer is something like 85 after all factory and legal tolerances). You're comparing apples with pears here.
Clearly the authorities also have priorities and if speeding would be deemed more dangerous, the fines wouldn't be linked to income only after 20km overspeeding.

[simon]

But I find it hard that a few posters are so self righteous about DD when I bet all have been speeding at one time or another which in it owns self is just as dangerous and if they got busted it would be "just a simple mistake".

Brendan made a mistake, which is inexcusable, but all these getting on their high horses about it could they honestly say they have never been driving over the speed limit?

Willingly driving under influence (of whatever substance) is hardly comparable with driving 90 where 80 is the limit (where effectively 90 on the speedometer is something like 85 after all factory and legal tolerances). You're comparing apples with pears here.
Clearly the authorities also have priorities and if speeding would be deemed more dangerous, the fines wouldn't be linked to income only after 20km overspeeding.

Apples and pears...you are joking right.. Driving at 90 in an 80 area can cause a surprisingly amount more damage. As far as I can tell Brendan knew didn't know he was over the limit, you know when you are speeding.

AS far as Im concerned DD and speeding is all comparable. Both can cause just as much damage with the driver thinking "I didn't think I was / it ws that much over the limit"

[Karhunkoski]

You're peeing in the wind Simon. You might as well start arguing about whether someone has ever driven feeling very tired, or with an offside rear tyre that may have been bordering on the legal tread depth, or any one of a host of other borderline bad moves.

Drinking and driving is just fooking daft, no high horse about it, it's just something that you shouldn't do.

[simon]

You're peeing in the wind Simon. You might as well start arguing about whether someone has ever driven feeling very tired, or with an offside rear tyre that may have been bordering on the legal tread depth, or any one of a host of other borderline bad moves.

Drinking and driving is just fooking daft, no high horse about it, it's just something that you shouldn't do.

No mate now it sounds like your trying to justify you speeding. But I agree with you that DD is something you should not do end of.

[karel]

didn't know he was over the limit

Drink = knowing you're over the limit.


"Oh, but I'm perfectly capable of driving with a few beers. I don't even feel that!"



"Sorry officer, I've had a few beers and I could've SWORN the speedometer was just under 85. Really!"


See where we're going with this?

[simon]

didn't know he was over the limit

Drink = knowing you're over the limit.


"Oh, but I'm perfectly capable of driving with a few beers. I don't even feel that!"



"Sorry officer, I've had a few beers and I could've SWORN the speedometer was just under 85. Really!"


See where we're going with this?

nowhere

[ajdias]

Have to say that whilst I completely agree with most comments on this thread about DD.

But I find it hard that a few posters are so self righteous about DD when I bet all have been speeding at one time or another which in it owns self is just as dangerous and if they got busted it would be "just a simple mistake".

Brendan made a mistake, which is inexcusable, but all these getting on their high horses about it could they honestly say they have never been driving over the speed limit?

Very well put, sir.

[Mook]

It depends on whether the law is "driving at unsafe speeds", or just going faster than an arbitrary limit.

Well there are different laws for each of these case.

Similarly there's 'driving with more than an arbitrary limit of alcohol in your bloodstream'. Funnily enough, different countries have different limits.

[simon]

You're peeing in the wind Simon. You might as well start arguing about whether someone has ever driven feeling very tired, or with an offside rear tyre that may have been bordering on the legal tread depth, or any one of a host of other borderline bad moves.

Drinking and driving is just fooking daft, no high horse about it, it's just something that you shouldn't do.

If for instance Im driving 50 in a 30 zone and knock a child down its not as bad as driving one beer over the limit?

Speeding Kills...Remeber the ad's back in the UK many moons ago...bit different to someone feeling tired. Get my point now

[Karhunkoski]

You're peeing in the wind Simon. You might as well start arguing about whether someone has ever driven feeling very tired, or with an offside rear tyre that may have been bordering on the legal tread depth, or any one of a host of other borderline bad moves.

Drinking and driving is just fooking daft, no high horse about it, it's just something that you shouldn't do.

No mate now it sounds like your trying to justify you speeding.

I'm not sure how you interpreeted it that way, but just to be clear, i in no way intend to justify speeding (anyway I'm a very stately driver, bordering on the boring in some people's eyes!)

[Rick1]

I do not know why Simon has to compare drunk driving and speeding, Brendan did both which is quite common under influence (people dare more). And I try to explain to Simon what I meant by getting caught the first time when you are doing it. The changes of being checked by police are quite small as I mentioned. So most who claim that it is their first time could have done it (many times) before. And as Brendan mentioned was though luck that they get caught, same counts for speeding. As I am driving every day I am more comfortable with everybody e.g. driving 85 on the meter (80 speedlimit) then that people are driving 80 on their speedo and annoying other people who think (they might be drunk, stop at every strange tree etc.) Also people who drive 90 or faster and break at every speedcamera are not really helping driving comfortably.

Another 'nice' thing is that these '80' people start to speed up when you are able to overtake them. Welcome back to the DDR.

[simon]

I do not know why Simon has to compare drunk driving and speeding, Brendan did both which is quite common under influence (people dare more). And I try to explain to Simon what I meant by getting caught the first time when you are doing it. The changes of being checked by police are quite small as I mentioned. So most who claim that it is their first time could have done it (many times) before. And as Brendan mentioned was though luck that they get caught, same counts for speeding. As I am driving every day I am more comfortable with everybody e.g. driving 85 on the meter (80 speedlimit) then that people are driving 80 on their speedo and annoying other people who think (they might be drunk, stop at every strange tree etc.) Also people who drive 90 or faster and break at every speedcamera are not really helping driving comfortably.

Another 'nice' thing is that these '80' people start to speed up when you are able to overtake them. Welcome back to the DDR.

So speeding is acceptable. Just hope you don't speed anywhere near my family.

[rinso]

Speed in itself is not the main reason for accidents.
Not being able to respond quick enough to sudden situations is.
Chatting with the other passengers, checking the kids in the back seat etc. while driving 80 is more dangerous than driving 90 while fully concentrated.
(this off course includes anticipation of all possible occurrences, which in turn might require speed adjustment.)
Using alcohol dramatic lengthens the reaction time. So for (slightly) intoxicated drivers there is no "save" speed.
(any impact over 30 has enough energy to be lethal)
Although speeding should not be accepted, it is rubbish to put it in the same class as drunk driving.
(this is also reflected in the different punishments)