Plan for no alcohol use by drivers

[Unhappy1]

Should you be driving in that situation? The effect is the same, why should the cause count for or against you?

Well you are going to have to show me the study where a trace amount or a "drop" as the article puts it of alcohol causes a decrease in motor control, then i could agree with you on the effect. Otherwise all you are doing is making pointless laws because the police are unable to enforce the ones already in place that deal with drunk drivers.

 

[Nick333]

****en right. Stop infecting your co-workers. it's selfish in the extreme

Right, because colds and flu aren't transmitable days before and after a person has symptoms.

 

[Sinbad]

That's a bit one sided...

If people were afforded adequate public transport, having drunk drivers on our roads would be a non-issue, and a zero tolerance policy would be applicable.

But to enforce it in that vein, with a "my way or the highway" stance, that isn't gonna work. A large contingent of the public enjoy alcohol, it would be ridiculous for the government to just dismiss them out of hand...

Can't find a designated driver or hire a cab?
Also, I think that even if there were public transport, people would drink and drive anyway because there is a complete lack of respect for the law in this country, and people think they're invincible or special - especially after a couple of drinks.

 

[Sinbad]

Right, because colds and flu aren't transmitable days before and after a person has symptoms.

When you don't know, it's not your fault. When you do know, you're just being a box.

 

[porchrat]

Should you be driving in that situation? The effect is the same, why should the cause count for or against you?

Woah there partner. You would need to demonstrate that someone is impaired at these levels, you can't just assume they are. Show me that there is some huge majority of accidents being caused by people sitting with alcohol levels within this range below the legal limit and that the cause of the accidents was the impairment via alcohol.

Right now I just don't see the logic behind it all.

 

[MickZA]

Should you be driving in that situation? The effect is the same, why should the cause count for or against you?

Exactly, most alcohol based medication comes with the warning "Do not drive or operate heavy machinery".

 

[Unhappy1]

http://www.actorpharma.co.za/products/FeverBlisterCare/Hedelix™-Cough-Syrup/default.aspx

Take some responsibility for your own life.


In fact, most cough syrups advise you NOT to operate heavy machinery when you take them. Don't you consider your car heavy machinery? Or is that recommendation just for someone else?

Sinbad thats a warning to cover their ass from law suits etc for those nuts that will down the whole bottle.

 

[ISP cash cow]

As Maverick Jester mentions this rule is putting the cart before the horse. The problem at the moment for road fatalities and accidents on the roads at the moment is because of lack of policing or repercussions for people who are currently breaking the law. So creating another "stricter" law is going to be of no consequence if the current laws are not even enforced properly.

Maybe they should try and enforce and get strict on our current laws before trying to solve the issues by creating another law that they just won't enforce.

 

[Sinbad]

Sinbad thats a warning to cover their ass from law suits etc for those nuts that will down the whole bottle.

So yes, it applies to someone else, I take it.

If you're feeling sick enough to want to take medication, do you not think perhaps that your concentration and reflexes may be affected a bit by the sickness itself?

I swear, people here seem to be absolute slaves to their addictions and weaknesses. If the law says don't, then don't! How hard is that to comprehend? Jeez.

 

[Blackhand]

I agree with the zero tolerance, it's just makes things far cheaper and more easily enforced than with some arb. limit in place or trying to determine capability.

The recent campaigns against drinking and driving and the roadblocks out en masse have had a big impact on our weekly get together of friends and family for braais and watching sport together already. Christmas and New year were really quite since you couldn't spit without hitting a roadblock. Not that we get smashed at these gatherings or anything, it's just far more comfortable to go home, plonk on the couch and have a beer without the worry of organizing transport and lumping somebody with the most crap of duties, "designated driver". As a result, fewer people wanting to get together.

The problem is at 11pm+ there isn't really any transport without a designated driver and lets face it, alcohol has it's place at social gatherings and celebrations. If there was relatively cheap, readily available safe transport after hours for people going to braais, family gatherings and partying on a Saturday night, I personally don't know anyone outside of emergencies where they would drive after having a drink.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I must say the taxi (designated driver companion) services in Western Cape are doing quite well. Should it be going to Newlands or other venues, or simply having a night out, people utilise these services.

 

[Nick333]

http://www.actorpharma.co.za/products/FeverBlisterCare/Hedelix™-Cough-Syrup/default.aspx

Take some responsibility for your own life.


In fact, most cough syrups advise you NOT to operate heavy machinery when you take them. Don't you consider your car heavy machinery? Or is that recommendation just for someone else?

Lol. Do they really? Do you think that's as a result of research into the effects of two table spoons of cough syrup on peoples ability to operate heavy machinery?

Have you never driven a car after taking cough syrup? Really? Truly?

 

[Sinbad]

Lol. Do they really? Do you think that's as a result of research into the effects of two table spoons of cough syrup on peoples ability to operate heavy machinery?

Have you never driven a car after taking cough syrup? Really? Truly?

What I have or have not done is not relevant here.

And I can't remember the last time I took cough syrup to be honest so I couldn't answer that question even if it was relevant.

Another one who thinks he's special. You are mate. You are.

 

[Unhappy1]

If you're feeling sick enough to want to take medication, do you not think perhaps that your concentration and reflexes may be affected a bit by the sickness itself?

Why are we still making guesses , provide the evidence , show me a study where a drop of alcohol or sickness reduces concentration and reflexes then we can talk.

 

[Picard]

They would need to prove that most of the accidents are occurring for people within that 0.05ml level otherwise this is pointless. If this large number of accidents is occurring in the range of people over the 0.05ml limit then they are already illegal and adding a new law doesn't change that. We already have laws to address those people.

I think the issue isn't the accidents involving different levels of alcohol.

What the minister is trying to do is motivate drivers to not drink at all. When you go to a party and you know that you CAN have some alcohol (just under 0.05), many people are going to make the mistake of drinking a little more and thus become illegal. Not many people know how much really constitutes 0.05 and I've never seen any breathalizer kits at the parties I've been to. That's why she said "people don't know their own limits".

But if you accept the fact that you may not have ANY alcohol in your blood, you won't drink and you won't make any mistakes.

 

[Maverick Jester]

Can't find a designated driver or hire a cab?

You can, but my point is that if government want to enforce this policy, they also need to provide the public with ways to adhere to it. Ceding responsibility to everyone is a rather tiresome trait that they exhibit.

Also, I think that even if there were public transport, people would drink and drive anyway because there is a complete lack of respect for the law in this country, and people think they're invincible or special - especially after a couple of drinks.

But then the zero tolerance would fix this don't you think? I am all for it, but it is a give and take situation.

 

[Sinbad]

Why are we still making guesses , provide the evidence , show me a study where a drop of alcohol reduces concentration and reflexes then we can talk.

How about you provide the evidence where alcohol does not reduce concentration and reflexes, since you are opposing the proposed law?

And note in my first post, I said that "I DON'T AGREE THAT ONE DROP AFFECTS YOUR DRIVING"...

 

[Sinbad]

I think the issue isn't the accidents involving different levels of alcohol.

What the minister is trying to do is motivate drivers to not drink at all. When you go to a party and you know that you CAN have some alcohol (just under 0.05), many people are going to make the mistake of drinking a little more and thus become illegal. Not many people know how much really constitutes 0.05 and I've never seen any breathalizer kits at the parties I've been to. That's why she said "people don't know their own limits".

But if you accept the fact that you may not have ANY alcohol in your blood, you won't drink and you won't make any mistakes.

Thank you. My point exactly.

 

[Albereth]

You get pissed on a couple of teaspoons of cough syrup? The point is normal people don't get intoxicated on recommended dosages of cough syrup but they will technically be subject to prosecution if this law is passed.

They say there should be 8 hours from bottle to throttle.

But how long exactly does it take for alcohol to be completely out of your system?

 

[Nick333]

So yes, it applies to someone else, I take it.

If you're feeling sick enough to want to take medication, do you not think perhaps that your concentration and reflexes may be affected a bit by the sickness itself?

I swear, people here seem to be absolute slaves to their addictions and weaknesses. If the law says don't, then don't! How hard is that to comprehend? Jeez.

The law doesn't say you can't take the recommended dose of cough syrup and drive as it stands. There's the valid question of whether or not it should. There is a reason why there is a review process before laws are passed - politicians are stupid and they often have stupid ideas.