Potentially controversial Public Service Announcement, but important - Page 3

TurnAround · #21 01-09-2009, 11:11 AM

Please consider the following..

I don't want to preach to people whether they should or shouldn't drink and drive. I don't want to get killed by a driver who has misjudged how impaired they are either. Think about this for second... because I bought this unit, I'm drinking less. I'm much more aware of it. What I didn't mention was my own target, based on what I learned. I'm now shooting to not go over .05. Think about how important that is. As it turns out, that's about a beer and a half for me. You cannot convince me to not have a drink with my friends. You won't have any luck with that, any more than I would to go out and start hitting my friends with that message. I wouldn't get any where with that, except to start losing friends.

Now, what has happened is really interesting. Now, all of a sudden, I've got several friends that are going to buy breathalyzers. This post might cause more folks to buy one. Can you not see how this helps? Do you really think that the opposite will happen... that some of the readers will start drinking more. More? It hardly takes any now to be illegal. How could they drink more?

If you check a few websites you will start to see that law enforcement endorses people buying one of these. I would suggest to you that they understand it is better to have folks who have made the decision to have a beer with friends, at least have one of these units in their car.

And by the way... yes.. my driving skills are 4 times better than the average cell phone talking soccer dad WITH kids in his car!. At .05 I am far, far, far, safer than that guy. Just ask my buddy at work who was just hit by one of them and totaled his car.

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JCL · #22 01-09-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnAround

You cannot convince me to not have a drink with my friends. You won't have any luck with that, any more than I would to go out and start hitting my friends with that message. I wouldn't get any where with that, except to start losing friends.

If keeping your friends is dependent on getting intoxicated with them, you may want to evaluate how much of a friend they really are.

The well known phrase is "Friends don't let friends drink and drive". You have turned it into "Only friends if you drink, and don't tell me not to drive after drinking".

Damager · #23 01-09-2009, 11:48 AM

I think the phrase is actually "Friends dont let friends drive drunk". That's exactly what he is doing.

statdoc · #24 01-09-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnAround

I don't want to preach to people whether they should or shouldn't drink and drive.

You lose me right there. DUI is NOT a personal choice that has no consequences. I DO want to preach to others not to drink and drive. I think you are trying to figure out how close to the edge you can walk, without falling off the cliff. Bad idea.

Damager · #25 01-09-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statdoc

You lose me right there. DUI is NOT a personal choice that has no consequences. I DO want to preach to others not to drink and drive. I think you are trying to figure out how close to the edge you can walk, without falling off the cliff. Bad idea.

I think what we are struggling with here is definition. Noone is "DUI", a legal term, unless they have a BAC of .08% or above. That is the level that is legally defined as the baseline for "impaired". Noone is saying that people should drive "under the influence" (i.e. >=.08%). We ARE saying that we don't see an issue with driving UNDER that limit.

It sounds to me like your position is that the definition of DUI should be >.00%, which, unfortunately, is not the definition or legal limit. I fully accept that it is your right to hold that belief and opinion, but that's all it is at this point - your opinion.

Quicksilver · #26 01-09-2009, 12:06 PM

Wrong analogy. Talking on the phone and texting is illegal here in California.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damager

Yes, and "driving under the influence" requires EITHER a BAC at a certain level OR the demonstration of impaired driving. It is TOTALLY legal to have a beer and then drive home, and almost surely just as safe as some dude talking on his phone or tuning his radio. While I hate the thought of people driving truly impaired, this fascistic reaction against responsible drivers who have a drink and are well under the level of impairment is silly.

I agree that the statement about BMW drivers being better drivers and able to handle their alcohol is silly, but I for one appreciate understanding how the process works.

Weasel · #27 01-09-2009, 12:08 PM

Well said.

And I'd be willing to bet that a few people debating this issue have no problems having a glass of wine or champagne with dinner at the restaurant when out with the family. Probably don't think twice about it because they know they would never "feel" the results of that one or 2 drinks... and yes, I would feel safer with that 1 or 2 glasses of wine/champagne guy driving then someone on the phone or texting.

And I am usually the ride out/home for my group of friends so I can't drink more than 1 or 2 when out... but if I do drink more, I catch a ride home and pick up my vehicle the next day.

No breath reading machine knows how YOU were affected by alcohol, just gives a physical # to put with the facts... which is why cops use a field sobriety test! They can make a judgment of just how impaired you actually are. I'd be willing to bet my "1 beer gets me drunk" friend could blow under the legal limit and not be able to stand up straight whereas some of my friends could down 1/2 a bottle of whiskey and pass field sobriety test without the cop even suspecting they had a drink!

Fact is peoples bodies react to alcohol differently, due to body mass, metabolism, etc. What the OP was trying to say is that he doesn't suggest drinking and driving, but if you are one of the people who does... he knows he can't change your mind, just maybe get a tester and know how to use it to help keep yourself in line and don't assume you're "straight" to drive.

statdoc · #28 01-09-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damager

I think what we are struggling with here is definition. Noone is "DUI", a legal term, unless they have a BAC of .08% or above. That is the level that is legally defined as the baseline for "impaired". Noone is saying that people should drive "under the influence" (i.e. >=.08%). We ARE saying that we don't see an issue with driving UNDER that limit.

No, in most states DUI is a subjective determination by the LEO that can be applied even if your BAC is less than the limit, if your driving is impaired. Which shows that even the legal system accepts that the fine motor skills and judgement can be effected even lower than the magical number.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damager

It sounds to me like your position is that the definition of DUI should be >.00%, which, unfortunately, is not the definition or legal limit. I fully accept that it is your right to hold that belief and opinion, but that's all it is at this point - your opinion.

Thanks, I didn't say that. All I am saying is that if I am out at Hooter's with friends, I drink no more than one beer per hour, and nothing in the last hour before leaving. Adult males can generally metabolize one drink per hour, which means I make sure I have NOTHING left in my system prior to getting back in the car. So yes, for myself, I am 100% sure I am back to a BAC of 0.0 before I drive. I consider it, oh....perhaps....responsibility?

AzX5 · #29 01-09-2009, 12:41 PM

If you're concerned about false breathalyzer readings, don't you have the option of a blood sample test instead? Charles Barkley tried that but it didn't work out the way he had hoped....

MrLabGuy · #30 01-09-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnAround

Lets face it, pretty much everyone who owns a BMW, that hangs out on these boards, has a driving skill level that is far beyond the average soccer dad driving a Camry

Also not true. Just ask B-Line...Just because you sit behind the wheel of a performance car does not mean you can drive or drive fast well. That attitude usually leads to a horrific accident without a drop of alcohol in your system.

Good luck with that...

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