* Please note that the results of the online poll represent just a snapshot of opinion from the site members who participate. The results of each poll do not necessarily represent the national picture. Participants are only allowed to vote once in each poll.
Papa Posted:
25/03/2008 12:05 |
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I just don't believe over 50% are so sure they were never over the limit. If you take driving the next morning into account i reckon at least 80% would have clicked option 4
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kia! Posted:
25/03/2008 14:45 |
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they say it takes 10-12 hrs for the drink to leave your system but even after this time if there is still a strong smell of drink off your breath you will more than likely fail a breath test. myself an a few friends were talkin about a programme( not sure of the name) but it followed the gardai around as they stopped drivers, anyway they stopped 1 woman in particular who took the breath test and she failed yet she had not taken a drink, the situation was that she was a teacher in wine tasting an had tasted several different wines but had not drank any and because she had a smell on her breath of alcohol she failed,and when she took a urine/blood test it showed up clear. so it is hard to know whether you are over the limit or not.
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anonymous Posted:
25/03/2008 16:03 |
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I have no problem with alcohol and driving. I just do not drink alcohol and thankfully my life is so full and exciting that I have no inclination to sit drinking to make me feel whatever it is drink does to a person. I would hate to think that at any time, due to my own search for pleasure(!!!), I would lose control of my functions. I like to know exactly what I am doing.
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Anonymous
Posted:
25/03/2008 20:40 |
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I did drink and drive on a number of occasions when in my early twenties. I find it hard to believe I could have been so stupid and irresponsible.
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ann(TRK44562) Posted:
26/03/2008 09:25 |
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I have never driven a vehicle without alcohol mainly because I need the courage to cope with the maniacs on the road, road works and chaotic signage and my local taxi driver has barred me because of my smoking and also its dangerous to be a walking alone at night in this day and age.
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Marti Posted:
26/03/2008 09:49 |
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Papa, I select "no, never" not because I'm sure I was never over the limit having had a drink but because I NEVER drive when I've been drinking. If I need to pick up my car the next day, I always leave it until the afternoon. If I'm in work the next day, I would never drink more than two or three drinks and would be home before 12.00, because I would feel like crap if I drank more. Some of us aren't guessing - we know.
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Billybob Posted:
26/03/2008 10:51 |
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Ann I sincerely hope that you're taking the piss with you last posting? You've never driven without drinking first???
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ann(TRK44562) Posted:
26/03/2008 11:32 |
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If people took the time to check statistics they would see that the main cause of car accidents are due to speeding, tiredness and drugs use which is not easy to identify as they recently discovered in germany. Forget these manipulated figures of the irish drink driving statistics.
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Papa Posted:
26/03/2008 13:52 |
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Fair enough Marti, but from the people I know, I'd guess 95% were over the limit the next morning a few times.
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heatherowan Posted:
27/03/2008 16:43 |
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I had to tick the Yes box, but it was a long time ago- and I frequently drove after drinking, as did almost everyone I knew. Strangely enough, there were not so many accidents in those days, though I did dent a couple of bumpers! However, I did learn sense, and now have no time for anyone who drinks and drives (drugs of all kinds also apply).
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nollaig32 Posted:
27/03/2008 17:11 |
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I'm absolutely ashamed to admit that many years ago I did drive a car while under the influence...but not any more. I certainly don't believe the 58% 'no never' lot.
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Anonymous
Posted:
27/03/2008 20:56 |
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I would answer yes but it is difficult to tell. How can you say if you are over the limit if you have two or three pints are large and male/thin female, have had a big meal, drank slowly??? It was many years ago and never to excess and the limit was higher then. Maybe the question should have been 'Do you believe you have drove a vehicle on a public road within the last year after drinking three or more units of alcohol within an hour of driving?' Obviously a person well over the limit is a risk to safe driving but so are many other factors such as speed, dangerous overtaking/driving, weather, bad roads, other drug taking. The punishmnet for drinking and speeding should be graded. Does a person slightly over the limit receive the same punishment as someone four times over the limit?
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Seanie Posted:
27/03/2008 21:11 |
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I too doubt if the figures are as low as shown by this poll suggests. Perhaps there should have been a poll option for people who did it a long time ago. That would be the case with me. I used to drive about a mile to the pub if the weather was bad and then drive home after five or six pints. I don't even drink anymore now but if I did there is no way I would sit behind a steering wheel. I just couldn't have someone else's death on my conscience.
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lavender Posted:
27/03/2008 21:30 |
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I have never driven with even a single pint in me. I once had a pint at lunch and went back to work on foot. I continued my work for the day and took the bus home.
Next day I had to correct all the mistakes I had made on my computer as a result of consuming just one pint. It taught me a very good lesson, how would I have managed to drive a car if I could not even drive my PC without making mistakes.? Thank God none of my errors were permanent nor fatal.
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Jem Posted:
27/03/2008 22:26 |
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I voted no never but that is because I dont drive. I can honestly say however that all of my friends (male ones that is) did drink and drive in their 20s as I was in their cars at the time. Most of them wouldnt now as we are in our 40s and have copped on a bit. I would think however that young people today wouldnt be much different than we were and that the fear of getting caught is the one deterrent that would work. None of my friends were ever done for drunk driving therefore they continued to do it for years.
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sniffey Posted:
28/03/2008 05:25 |
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crap you know the culture we drink and drive as the Gardai have not got a clue
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mark 2 Posted:
28/03/2008 09:41 |
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I do not drive a vehicle if i have even one drink, we MUST understand when you drive with drink taken, you have turned your car and yourself in to a killing machine, you should be charged with murder,
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gotto Posted:
28/03/2008 09:54 |
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The 52% who ticked never must be under 30 or have never driven. In the 70's 80's and early nineties drinking and driving was everywhere. people may not have been drunk but if you were using the levels allowed now the majority were over the limit. I did it, my friends and work colleagues all did it. maybe people over 30 are not taking part in this survey. I do not do it now as I see the devastation it can cause but when i was younger I felt i could do both. I was wrong but I was lucky. I was never caught and I was lucky never to have been in a serious accident.
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Anonymous
Posted:
28/03/2008 10:07 |
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Kia, it takes approximately an hour for one unit of alcohol to clear the average system. The breahtalyser is designed to measure the alcohol in your system - regardless of what your breath smells of.
Ads Heather said, years ago the older generation were very laid back about driving with alcohol and there were less accidents but also fewer cars on the road.
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Annie Posted:
28/03/2008 12:22 |
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Its obvious that the 53% live in cities or big towns where there MIGHT be public transport.
There must be virtually nobody (except pioneers!) in rural Ireland who could tick 'Never'.
There was and still is, no other choice for most people in rural Ireland.
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Tony Posted:
28/03/2008 12:30 |
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when i was younger i like most people i knew did drink and drive, but now i would never even consider doing so. most men i know, older, except for hard core who continue. all of younger persons i know do not drink and drive.
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vics Posted:
28/03/2008 14:20 |
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forgot to consider the day after when polling vote! so on that note yes i probably was over the limit in the past but am sooo conscious now of it, that days ahead of even having a night out i'm thinking "can't drink too much" be sensible, definately knowing that you could be pulled the next day has made me far more aware of my alchohol intake
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Anonymous
Posted:
29/03/2008 21:09 |
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i have to admit i chance it after 2 drinks still.
if i get caught it is my own fault.
i am still in control because of my weight and the food i take with it.
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Lee Posted:
30/03/2008 23:04 |
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I voted that I wasn't sure because if I'm drinking I don't drive, but on a few occasions I have driven the morning after having a few and would probably have failed a breath test had I been stopped.
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Papa Posted:
31/03/2008 12:32 |
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To heather and Anonymous 28/03/2008 10:07, in the 60's 70's and 80's there was little traffic, but almost double the deaths that there is now! It just wasn't highlited like it is now or you're looking at the old days with rose tinted glasses.
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Anonymous
Posted:
31/03/2008 14:53 |
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Over 800 road deahts in the 80's ? I think not Papa. And if you think there was little traffic then perhaps it is you who have the rose tinted glasses.
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Marti Posted:
31/03/2008 15:18 |
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Annie, we all understand what it's like to be a considerable distance from your "local" - even though is one pub quite close to me, I won't drink there as there can be quite a rough crowd so I go to a pub about 40 minutes walk away and usually get a lift or share a taxi with friends. I know this gives me a choice, but quite regularly I will decide not to drink and to give people I socialise with a lift - ever hear of a designated driver? Among a group of 4 or 5 people, it's not too much to ask someone to go to the pub and not drink one night out of five. Bottom line is that there's no excuse. There are ways around it if you bother to find them and stop making excuses. Everybody does it is not a good enough reason.
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kia! Posted:
31/03/2008 15:43 |
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a friend of my boyfriends drove home on paddys night after been drinking since about 3 that day. i was so shocked that he would do such a thing and especially to chance it on paddys night of all nights!a few days after we made sum sly remarks about it kind of joking but giving out at the same time,he got really embaressed and very ashamed and didn't want to talk about it,so we thought well atleast he's learned his lesson...how naive were we!!easter sunday night he did the same thing (although he might not have been drinking for the same amount of time) he still had a lot to drink!an he would of been home a half an hr be4 the nite clubs finished so its not as if there was no taxis available (not that,that should be an excuse). i was in complete disgust, once is stupid but twice is foolish!because he got away with it the 1st time he did again, and im sure he will probably do it again unless he gets caught by the gaurds or god forbid injures somebody,but then its to late!so altough many people in this discussion have admitted to drink driving in the past but have stopped in recent times does not mean every1 has taken this sensible approach an its quite scary to think that people will still drink an drive, whilst knowing the consequences of their actions!
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Papa Posted:
31/03/2008 16:39 |
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338 road deaths last year anon, and over 600 in certain years in the 70s. And yes, there was a hell of a lot less cars on the road then, that's pretty obvious.
www.garda.ie/statistics98/rtastats_longterm.html
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