Queensland to consider.02 blood alcohol limit

csv8 · 14-03-2010, 11:08 AM

QUEENSLAND will consider a new blood alcohol limit for motorists as low as .02 in a bid to cut the state's horrific road toll.

A Drink Driving in Queensland discussion paper, to be released today, looks at the possibility of lowering the general alcohol limit from .05.

Norway and Sweden have the lowest road toll rates in the world and both have a blood alcohol limit of .02.

The Scandinavian countries have four road deaths per 100,000 population – Queensland has eight. Premier Anna Bligh and Transport Minister Rachel Nolan will ask Queenslanders to comment on the lower blood alcohol limit and other tough drink-drive measures.

"The paper canvasses dropping the blood alcohol limit lower than .05," Ms Bligh said.

Captain Bligh.." you said "speed was the cause of the horrific road toll, now its alcohol, whats next, V8's ?"

**DJM83** · 14-03-2010, 11:11 AM

Another quick bandaid fix

paule11 · 14-03-2010, 11:16 AM

Need to get money somehow once ports and rail bring in no revenue for the government.

Adolf Bligh has probably worked out how many people get caught for .05 and there are far more that are between .05 and .02 and she has seen the money signs.

XR Martin · 14-03-2010, 11:24 AM

Dont see a problem with it. Atleast people will know for sure that they cant drive if its only going to take one drink to put them over.

**DJM83** · 14-03-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Dont see a problem with it. Atleast people will know for sure that they cant drive if its only going to take one drink to put them over.

Valid point but they arent in it to stop people dying in a crash, they are in it for the extra revenue involved. As per every other 'cash grab'

Edit- I DO NOT RECOMMEND DRINK DRIVING (FOR THE NIT PICKERS)

BOSHOG · 14-03-2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Dont see a problem with it. Atleast people will know for sure that they cant drive if its only going to take one drink to put them over.

agreed, drink driving shouldn't be acceptable under any circumstances

also, does alcohol taste that good that you want to drink it without getting ****ed? ive never tasted an alcoholic drink that tasted better than orange juice, chocolate milk or even a cold water

JC807 · 14-03-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

also, does alcohol taste that good that you want to drink it without getting ****ed? ive never tasted an alcoholic drink that tasted better than orange juice, chocolate milk or even a cold water

do you have a problem with booze or something?
when you are grown up you might be able to enjoy having 1 glass of wine with friends at dinner, or enjoy 1 beer after work. alcohol is not just about "getting ****ed".
I feel this issue is all about maturity, something some of the posters in this thread obviously don't have, comparing one glass of wine to one hit of heroin WTF?

one drink isn't going to get you smashed, and if it did then your BAC would reflect this anyway.
I'd feel safer on the road with mature people with 0.05 and under BAC than with foolish kids with cars trying to speed through traffic and drifting on wet roads with their friends egging them on.

BOSHOG · 14-03-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC807

do you have a problem with booze or something?
when you are grown up you might be able to enjoy having 1 glass of wine with friends at dinner, or enjoy 1 beer after work. alcohol is not just about "getting ****ed".
I feel this issue is all about maturity, something some of the posters in this thread obviously don't have, comparing one glass of wine to one hit of heroin WTF?

one drink isn't going to get you smashed, and if it did then your BAC would reflect this anyway.
I'd feel safer on the road with mature people with 0.05 and under BAC than with foolish kids with cars trying to speed through traffic and drifting on wet roads with their friends egging them on.

how old do you think i am? going by your post you think im 21 lol

im not against alcohol at all, if its consumed safely and in moderation. what i have a problem with is Australian drinking culture. why do i need to get drunk with friends to be social and Australian?

for the record there is no way in hell that drinking 1 beer should be compared to injecting heroin..... 10 beers maybe (never had heroin so i dont know for sure)

**buggerlugs** · 14-03-2010, 11:28 AM

Yep, a few less clowns on the road.................can't see a problem either.

The Monty · 14-03-2010, 11:30 AM

I think it can only be a good thing. I have no sympathy for anyone that wants to have even one drink and then hop behind the wheel of a car. And if people think its ok to have just one drink of wine at lunch time, then drive somewhere, does that mean its ok to have one line of coke, one joint, or shoot up just one hit of heroin before you drive as well?

**DJR-351** · 14-03-2010, 11:39 AM

I don't have a problem with this, what i can't understand is the prolonged slide to zero alcohol, just make it zero and be done with it....

Bushbasher · 14-03-2010, 11:41 AM

What's the point beyond revenue raising? You couldn't even have 1 drink to put you over the limit so if you were going to go to .02 you might as well make it 0.0 and be done with it. It still won't stop the dropkicks who would walk out of the pub/club/party and hop in their car cos they are taking no notice of the DD laws anyway no matter what the limit might be.

Bushbasher

04redxr8 · 14-03-2010, 11:47 AM

No probs here either.

However, if .05 isn't stopping people, .02, won't make any difference to those who reguarly drive drunk.

A zero limit is foolish. Cough medicines, cherry ripes and some ice creams (Bubbl-o-bills I think), will even give a reading.

Franco Cozzo · 15-03-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04redxr8

No probs here either.

However, if .05 isn't stopping people, .02, won't make any difference to those who reguarly drive drunk.

A zero limit is foolish. Cough medicines, cherry ripes and some ice creams (Bubbl-o-bills I think), will even give a reading.

I had to be careful at a family gathering yesterday, I went to eat some deserts and the bloody pav had vanilla essence so I didn't have any for fears of showing up tiny amount of alcohol in a breath test, then we ended up leaving a few hours later anyway :'(.

I reckon, go the whole hog, 0.00 like P platers, you did it when you where 18, you can do it again I reckon.

jpd80 · 15-03-2010, 06:43 PM

If alcohol is playing a major part in serious road injuries, wouldn't it be smarter to go back to good
old fashioned target testing of known hot spots and nab those stewed to the eyeballs drivers...

I'm all for letting the police work out where the drunks lurk and go get them
that includes dummies that booze up at home, get the munchies and go for a drive...

ToCo · 14-03-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

I think it can only be a good thing. I have no sympathy for anyone that wants to have even one drink and then hop behind the wheel of a car. And if people think its ok to have just one drink of wine at lunch time, then drive somewhere, does that mean its ok to have one line of coke, one joint, or shoot up just one hit of heroin before you drive as well?

So are you saying that you are just as coherent if you have 1 drink to compared to a hit of heroin? Come on.... Bit of a ridiculous comparison.

jpd80 · 14-03-2010, 12:13 PM

The limit was dropped from 0.08 to 0.05 on the grounds of impairment,
people at 0.05 do not perceive any impairment that's actually happening.

I doubt the argument for fines/suspension for exceeding 0.02 holds up to scientific scrutiny,
it seems more of a officious legislative way to enforce a no drink/drive policy.
The recalcitrant ones will continue to drink and drive, I say bring back target testing...

Or, just put alcotest/ignition lock software in cars,
provide a breath specimen or the car doesn't start.

XR Martin · 14-03-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Or, just put alcotest/ignition lock software in cars,
provide a breath specimen or the car doesn't start.

Too easy to bypass.
Get someone else to provide the specimen, or use some compressed air.

.OZZY. · 14-03-2010, 12:33 PM

As a P plater and having 0 BAC, I dont see a problem with this realy.

If you know your going to have to drive and will be over the limit with just one drink, then dont drink! simple. Or find someone to be deso driver.

WILDTRAKPX2 · 14-03-2010, 12:27 PM

This is just another income stream for the fine/tax mad Bligh. This government must be in a bigger financial mess than we think.

drew`SEVNT5 · 14-03-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

I think it can only be a good thing. I have no sympathy for anyone that wants to have even one drink and then hop behind the wheel of a car. And if people think its ok to have just one drink of wine at lunch time, then drive somewhere, does that mean its ok to have one line of coke, one joint, or shoot up just one hit of heroin before you drive as well?

Nice hyperbole.

Key difference is, Alcohol is legal, and has a prescribed limit...

Coke, Weed, Herion are not and do not.

Next BS argument strategy?

The Monty · 14-03-2010, 11:42 AM

Wouldnt this basically mean 0 bac anyway? As even one drink will put you over. Its jsut a nice way of sugar coating it. People will think, oh, I have a little bit to play with, Ill just have one, and then end up with a fine anyway.

**DJM83** · 14-03-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

Wouldnt this basically mean 0 bac anyway? As even one drink will put you over. Its jsut a nice way of sugar coating it. People will think, oh, I have a little bit to play with, Ill just have one, and then end up with a fine anyway.

Exactly right Joshand thats what will happen people will still think they can have 1 drink then drive and then when they get caught cop a fine. Its a nice little 'loophole' for the govt to make money as 0.2 BAC means 0 BAC

Romulus · 14-03-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Exactly right Joshand thats what will happen people will still think they can have 1 drink then drive and then when they get caught cop a fine. Its a nice little 'loophole' for the govt to make money as 0.2 BAC means 0 BAC

Why is it so hard not to drink before you drive? It's common practise for mining workplaces insisting on a worker blowing triple 0's before starting work, why is it so hard to insist on triple 0's, or less than 0.02 BAC before driving a car?

Australia has a booze and alcoholism culture, about time someone attempted to tackle one aspect of it by making other road users safer.

PHATXR8 · 14-03-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT Falcon

Australia has a booze and alcoholism culture, about time someone attempted to tackle one aspect of it by making other road users safer.

What a crock of do-gooder rubbish!

Next you will moaning about the terrible V8, speeding, petrol guzzling, pot smoking, 4wd environmental vandaling, heterosexual culture that is so obvious in Australia...... outrageous indeed!

Bring in zero BAC and make all road speed limits 40 km/h!

Would that make you happy?

Romulus · 14-03-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHATXR8

What a crock of do-gooder rubbish!

Next you will moaning about the terrible V8, speeding, petrol guzzling, pot smoking, 4wd environmental vandaling, heterosexual culture that is so obvious in Australia...... outrageous indeed!

Bring in zero BAC and make all road speed limits 40 km/h!

Would that make you happy?

Rubbish. I drive a gas guzzling Super Pursuit ute, own a 4wd to go bush bashing and drive 130-160km/h on open roads. You couldn't have been more wrong matey.

I wouldn't fly with a pilot who had any BAC reading, why should I share the road with others who read any BAC. Most people are incompetent and struggle at the best of times, allowing a BAC just makes stupid behind the wheel even more stupid.

And yes, Australia does have a booze, binge drinking and alcoholism culture.

mick457 · 15-03-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHATXR8

What a crock of do-gooder rubbish!

Next you will moaning about the terrible V8, speeding, petrol guzzling, pot smoking, 4wd environmental vandaling, heterosexual culture that is so obvious in Australia...... outrageous indeed!

Bring in zero BAC and make all road speed limits 40 km/h!

Would that make you happy?

well said i cant agree more mate

InTrail · 14-03-2010, 11:53 AM

Surely if there is an actual safety reason behind this push for a lower BAC then accidents involving drivers between 0.02 and 0.05 must be reasonably frequent.

I know up here in FNQ there was talk of lowering the BAC limit after a string of alcohol related fatalities, but all the involved drivers were well above the current limit.
If someone's going to drive after drinking enough to be double (or more) the current limit, will lowering that limit actually have an effect on such menaces??

Jason[98.EL] · 14-03-2010, 11:54 AM

vic are looking at it as well

Jason

atec77 · 14-03-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

QUEENSLAND will consider a new blood alcohol limit for motorists as low as .02 in a bid to cut the state's horrific road toll.

A Drink Driving in Queensland discussion paper, to be released today, looks at the possibility of lowering the general alcohol limit from .05.

Norway and Sweden have the lowest road toll rates in the world and both have a blood alcohol limit of .02.

The Scandinavian countries have four road deaths per 100,000 population – Queensland has eight. Premier Anna Bligh and Transport Minister Rachel Nolan will ask Queenslanders to comment on the lower blood alcohol limit and other tough drink-drive measures.

"The paper canvasses dropping the blood alcohol limit lower than .05," Ms Bligh said.

Captain Bligh.." you said "speed was the cause of the horrific road toll, now its alcohol, whats next, V8's ?"

Anther patently stupid rush patch by a government on the verge of being disenfranchised , the countries quoted don't have to distance problems we do here in Au they have a public transport system far more viable and a road system several generations ahead in development . Perhaps a sensible decision would be to actually study and find a workable solution in this driving environ instead of importing a nonstarter ?
Oh wait that would lead to intelligent government ?