Drink driving: acceptable?

[Silver]

In light of this thread, I'm genuinely curious how many people think drink driving is acceptable (and to what degree).

For the record, my answer would be one or two drinks.

[Raffles]

I think that the scope of your poll is too restricted and needs to be expanded.
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[dodsi]

I recently had a night out, got in after 3am and got up at 7:00 to ride to work - still pissed.

For some reason I thought it a perfectly reasonable idea to do nearly 3 times the speed limit in a 30 zone and then my control over the machine was nowhere near as good as when I am sober.

This is one extreme, one or two drinks wouldnt hurt to be honest but would never do something as described above again.

[FURBAR]

I've learnt ... that riding after a few is much harder than driving after a few ...
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Fuk um !!

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I drink so little these days that I know it has a big effect on me, so for me going near the limit is a pretty bad idea.

However I am a bit dubious on the current drink driving rules based on a fixed limit. Current DD limit is based on a 1960s study that found the accident risk rapidly increased a bit over the current limit (about 20% over the current limit), while at the limit it is only doubled. As an aside the same study found that a small amount (under half the current DD limit) reduced the accident risk. But the whole thing is based on averages, so takes into account people like me who now are noticeably affected when well under the limit.

All the best

Keith
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[stinkwheel]

Having done some really serious drink riding (on an island with no police or requirement for a driving licence), I'd say it is foolish in the extreme. Certainly on public roads.

Where I did it, there was a negligeable to zero risk of actually meeting anyone else on the road, I'd gone out with the intent of getting pissed up and riding home and had made that decision while sober. I was literally all over the place, wobbling in second gear with one eye shut due to double vision. Persons put at risk by this: One. Me. Something I reserve the right to do.

Do it in a populated area? No danger.

I'm also one of those people who has a pretty good handle on exactly how impaired they are when they've been drinking. I know for a fact I can waltz a breathalyzer after 2 pints and I can and will drive after doing so BUT sometimes 2 pints is enough to make me feel slightly the worse for it and I wouldn't drive then.

I know plenty of people who turn into an arrogant, overconfident idiot after a few drinks, these are the really dangerous ones and there is no way of testing for it.
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[Dr. DaveJPS]

my rule is one with food if i'm driving, none if i'm riding.
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[Dazbo666]

I rarely drink very much at the best of times, so I'm also aware that it's likely to affect me more than most.
I've driven after one pint, and although I felt physically OK, I was aware that I'd had a drink, and would prefer never to do that again.
I can honestly say I've never ridden after a drink
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[pinkyfloyd]

I rarely drink but now and then have the odd glass. But wont touch the stuff if I have to get on the bike.

I work in a bar and regularly get offered drinks. I never accept
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[FURBAR]

[Hetzer]

I believe this best sums-up my attitude:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0R5TKQW3lk&playnext=1&videos=q5StHnBeuz8&feature=mfu_in_order
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[The Artist]

One pint maximum if riding and even then I won't have anything just before I am riding.

I have had more but try and leave a decent gap so if I get pulled I am under the limit.

I won't ever ride if I feel like I have drunk alcohol, if you know what I mean.

[Hetzer]

If I can't walk straight, or I wobble, I won't ride/drive. But if I'm steady on my pins I'm fit to operate a vehicle (at a reduced speed, ie the legal limit).

I did drive a car once, when I was so pissed I could barely stand. The worst that happened was I hit and mounted a curb with the rear wheel on a very tight corner (at approx 10mph) leading into an industrial-estate. I learned a valuable lesson from that, even though the rest of the journey was fine.

I've ridden and driven in the midst of acid-trips, long journies too, without hitting or even coming close to hitting anything. Maybe I'm not a typical example, but so what? I make my own judgements and I'm prepared to be held accountable if I do harm. And believe me, if I thought there was even a 1% chance I'd do harm because of my altered state, I wouldn't take that chance.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[colin1]

There is a balance between convenience/ practicality and safety.

I think I'm pretty safe on one drink, but two, quite a bit less so. A few times on two drinks, I have been a bit reckless, so one drink is best, and if I have two, I know to be careful not tempted into going a bit faster because it feels ok.

The issue is very similar to speed. The faster you ride, the less time you have to react to anything unexpected. The more drunk you are the slower your reactions, so the more time you need to be able to react to the unexpected.

Some people who go at daft speeds on the road, wont touch a drop if they are driving, and are very judgemental of drunk driving, but actually they are probably just as bad.
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[Gone]

I've just crawled out of bed, so my judgment is impaired by sleep (and its interruption at this ungodly hour) but I'm not sure I understand the question. The first post asks if respondents are in favour of drink driving, whereas the poll asks what they actually do.

Therefore, I cannot cast a vote. I am not in favour of people driving under the influence, but I am also not in favour of any blanket legislation that takes away people's right to choose.

Personally, I never drive or ride a bike if I have had more than a pint, and very rarely even then. I am aware that after this, my judgment is poorer. But I reserve the right to have that as my own choice, not one imposed on my by the State.

[Visitor Q]

The thing is, in the UK there are a lot of drunken lemmings. Operating a car or bike bollocksed is fine, but avoiding sudden hazards not so much.

That said, everyone in Thailand rides to the club and rides back, because you can't get taxis most places. So erm yeh, I've done it plenty. Would I recommend it... Probably yes. Redlining a 125 4t single in the rain screaming along to pet shop boys/god for making it rain was a notably fun way to finish a night.

Would I do it in England? No. Because the pigs are out to get you, and for good reason I guess. I'd rather ride after 5-6 pints on a lunchtime then 2 on a Friday evening... put it that way.

But generally, if I feel drunk I don't ride in the UK.
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[oldpink]

no never
would you get on a plane if you seen the pilot having a beer or 2 ??
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[TimNorwich]

I never drink and drive, if I need to drive home I won't have a pint as in my eyes theres no point in having just one drink, all or nothing .
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[Paxovasa]

[Tonka]

I guess the way I see it is if I was to have an accident having had something to drink I would always wonder if I could have avoided it if I had not had a drink. If said accident meant someone else was hurt I would feel immeasurable guilt.

Simple for me: if I need to drive or ride I don't have any alcohol to drink and that way I can live with the results of my actions.

As a teenager I did drive back from a party very drunk but I barely got out of second gear I was going that slowly. I was worried about unwanted attention from a male partygoer and had planned to stay over but didn't feel safe. Being selfish I thought my safety was more important than any other road users at 03:00 which fortunately were none, but I learned my lesson! Yoof, eh?
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[Visitor Q]

[Nai]

I voted no but Kickstart put part of the way I feel in the right words. Everyone has different limits. Guess I am half way between the options.

[panrider_uk]

[Visitor Q]

[supZ]

the poll doesnt suit my answer.

on the bike, never, not a single pint.

in the car id have a pint. just one tho

9 times out of 10 though i dont even bother having one, dont see the point in having one for the sake of it. and its not worth the risk, even if you're completely fine you could still be over the limit. not worth it
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