.02 limit in Victoria in the news

[CoupeKing]

Just make the penalties higher. Repeat offenders, especially the ones that either wipe out a family or put someone in a chair, get life.

0.02, lol. Thats not even a light beer? ' Can I order a chicken Parma and a shot glass of Vic Bitter plz'... *&^% WAKE UP!

Are these the same morons that spent 300+ million on the new cigarette packet horror pics, thinking people will stop smoking?

Me and my friends spent thousands on Taxis all because we had the brains not to jump behind a wheel.

[tut0r]

I agree with what someone said earlier, increasing the difficulty to get your license, I have many friends that are horrid drivers and some of them seriously couldn't operate a damn toaster without doing something stupid.

I've always said driving a car should be seen more as a privilege not a right. Maybe start with harsher penalties again for people on their phones! That still has to be something I say on a daily basis almost causing accidents and I hate to say it but its my damn generation that are some of the worst. Myself being 26, they can't keep their eyes off the ******* thing....ARghh rant over....

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by tut0r

I agree with what someone said earlier, increasing the difficulty to get your license, I have many friends that are horrid drivers and some of them seriously couldn't operate a damn toaster without doing something stupid.

I've always said driving a car should be seen more as a privilege not a right. Maybe start with harsher penalties again for people on their phones! That still has to be something I say on a daily basis almost causing accidents and I hate to say it but its my damn generation that are some of the worst. Myself being 26, they can't keep their eyes off the ******* thing....ARghh rant over....

Why can't they do both? Ie address both mobiles and BAC? Why should one be addressed and not the other?

Both scenarios kill.

[SB076]

As adults we should be able to enjoy a beer or a wine with a meal and still home, leave the limit as is. As for the argument that a small amount of alcohol, impairs driving, the same can be said for driving whilst stressed, or driving home after a long days work - where do you draw the point?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SB076

As adults we should be able to enjoy a beer or a wine with a meal and still home, leave the limit as is. As for the argument that a small amount of alcohol, impairs driving, the same can be said for driving whilst stressed, or driving home after a long days work - where do you draw the point?

The difference is you can control whether you have alcohol or not.

[Grum]

I'm for it but only on one condition:
Any positive result under 0.05 simply results in you parking your car and picking the keys up from the local cop shop 8-12 hours later.
No fine, no ticket - minimal paperwork.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The difference is you can control whether you have alcohol or not.

Prescription medication, driving with kids, not getting a good night sleep all these can reduce your ability to focus 100% on driving (same as alcohol) What you control isn't relevant, the outcome is (meaning we have an obligation to drive in a safe and law abiding manner - regardless what ever circumstance you face at any particular point in time)

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by Grum

I'm for it but only on one condition:
Any positive result under 0.05 simply results in you parking your car and picking the keys up from the local cop shop 8-12 hours later.
No fine, no ticket - minimal paperwork.

Not a bad idea

[SB076]

Originally Posted by Grum

I'm for it but only on one condition:
Any positive result under 0.05 simply results in you parking your car and picking the keys up from the local cop shop 8-12 hours later.
No fine, no ticket - minimal paperwork.

Would that reduce number of accidents or the road toll? Are drivers between 0.01 and 0.04 that much of a risk?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SB076

Would that reduce number of accidents or the road toll? Are drivers between 0.01 and 0.04 that much of a risk?

Probably not but its a good opportunity to raise more $$$ while appeasing a noisy lobby group and pretend like they're doing something.

[Grum]

Originally Posted by SB076

Would that reduce number of accidents or the road toll? Are drivers between 0.01 and 0.04 that much of a risk?

It's a fair but annoying enough deterrent to reinforce the idea that a vehicle shouldn't be operated under the influence but without the government hypocrisy to raise revenue from something that was previously legal.

[joolz]

I watched the news report on ch9 the other night and there was a mother that lost a child to a drink driver (well over 0.05) Dropping the limit to 0.02 wouldnt have changed that outcome at all. However dropping the limit will have more people fined and hospitality will feel the pinch. Consentrate on distracted drivers and not reducing tolerances/speed zones to prop up revenue in the disguise of safety.

[tut0r]

Originally Posted by Guzz226

Why can't they do both? Ie address both mobiles and BAC? Why should one be addressed and not the other?

Both scenarios kill.

Let me rephrase how i've put it then, I've never heard of and this is not to say that it hasn't happened, but someone cause a serious accident for having alcohol in their system that was under the legal limit(Would be a Media nightmare if they did). As already said the ones you hear by the media are well over the legal limit, from going off current media alone am I to assume that there is nothing wrong with being under .05? Sure why not, unfortunately what the media reports is rarely truthfully factual....

But my logic dictates that someone not even looking at the road on their phone is going to be more likely to cause an accident than someone with alcohol in their system that is still under .05. I hope this makes sense

[supershifty]

I don't have any access, nor have any idea as to the figures of when reducing the limit from 0.08 to 0.05 BAC made any difference to the road toll or accidents - would be interesting to know if it made any change in the statistics. I'm assuming that 0.05 is the limit across all of Australia? not just QLD?

I understand that alcohol affects everyone differently, some are two pot/glass of champers screamers, others can knock down 6 schooners and be perfectly normal (albeit over the limit)

I can't remember when the 0.05 limit came in in QLD, but it was sold to us at the time by the establishment that it 0.05 had a very negligible effect on driving compared to 0.08 and that it would cover drivers who were trying to do the right thing.

I'm all for safer roads for fellow road users, but 0.02 is nothing but a money grab - that's a schooner of mid in the arvo after work that will put you over the 0.02 ffs! Hunt down the folk that are distracted texting and on their phones during the day - I'd like to see a comparison of bingles during the day as opposed to sensible after work pub drinks.

My 2 cents worth guys.

Cheers!

[Trek]

Funny how the police are in some sense posing a threat to the employment of others (re: hospitality)... Nice to see others are making that point or connecting the dots here.

Very shortsighted by the police, from an economical standpoint. Police are not a business, they are a service that incidentally get paid a wage and allowed greed to take hold. But yes, let's ignore the greater flow-on effects of 'safety' and eventually drain/strangle society...

[carwant.com.au]

I used to live in Victoria and the zero tolerance attitude was too harsh.

Think about it from a work or personal view. If your boss keeps telling you what to do every 5 seconds, then eventually you're going to ignore him/her, or be strict down the line with what your boss is saying.

Take that on the road, and you either end up ignoring the road rules, or you drive in a way that you ignore others on the road, and even stay on the right hand lane whilst doing 20km under the limit.

Give drivers the respect that they have rightfully earned, and most of them will do the right thing in return. With the few that won't go hard on them.....

[tut0r]

Originally Posted by floppy ears

Give drivers the respect that they have rightfully earned, and most of them will do the right thing in return. With the few that won't go hard on them.....

I don't know if I would say many drivers deserve 'respect', considering everyone has broken the road rules on more than one occasion and completely aware of it at the time.

I think its more of instead of trying to fix the problem first hand, better education and stopping the problem at the root source, but easier said than done.

[Outbackjack]

Catch a cold and spend the day guzzling cough medicine. Drive to the local pizza shop and get breath tested. Bingo, you are one of societies scum drunk drivers.....

[minheim]

I understand the Victorian government has said it has no interest in this push by the police commissioner and third parties. I enjoy the occasional social drink and always err on the side of caution by having cokes after 2 light beers. To my mind there is no real need for such a draconian step and the impact it would have on people still safe to drive but pinged while under .05. I would much rather see an increased focus on drivers on drugs and unroadworthy cars if more police time is to be devoted to monitoring road users.

[MercurySilver]

its a revenue raising idea floated out to the masses to gauge reaction

[Ben73]

Completely stupid.
I don't drink wine much but last week I was in the Hunter Valley so I had a few sips at a wine tasting. I probably was over 0.02 after that.
No buses or taxis or trains or anything out there.

0.05 seams a reasonable amount. The idiots who don't care will drink drive no matter what the limit is.

[tut0r]

Maybe changing the laws on High range drink driving, example .2 and over is instant loss of license for life or raise the fines and they lose their license for 5 years. This may not still stop them and they'll probably drive again but make the consequences life changing and scary so people won't do it...

[kazawaki]

Nobody will be able to do anything as long as Ken Lay is in charge,he really lives in his own little bubble.I personally would love to have a chat with him.

[danzvtil]

This country STILL has an ingrained drinking and driving culture. Drive past any pub at lunch time on a mildly warm day and I guarantee the front verandah will be full of blokes in their hi vis sitting there knocking back a few. Now, im no expert but those same guys aren't about to hop in a cab to take them back to worksite or refrain from operating machinery for the rest of the day are they??
I visit many businesses in my course of work, and most Friday arvos at 4pm Ill be offered to join them in knocking back a few coldies before 5pm, the same people who will put away 3 or 4 then hop into their car and drive home. Some people don't get it when I tell them that as a sales rep I NEED my license to earn a crust, a license im not about to put in jeopardy for a few beers.

[sleek7]

Urgh 0.02... If this passes they may aswell drop it to 0.00 to remove any doubt about your BAC level...

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

I guarantee the front verandah will be full of blokes in their hi vis sitting there knocking back a few. Now, im no expert but those same guys aren't about to hop in a cab to take them back to worksite or refrain from operating machinery for the rest of the day are they??

I have been to a pub in my work clothes at lunch time more than once.
Me and my work mate had finished for the day and we had 1 beer with lunch. Not drunk driving at all. I don't know how you think every one in work clothes is knocking back few beers then driving.

I have even been to a pub at lunch time, ate food and did not even have a sip of alcohol. Then went back to work.
I know some people do the wrong thing, but classing everyone the same is the reason why we get stupid rules in the first place.

[minheim]

Before they worry about about taking licences off sober people, how about they work out how to deal with the existing repeat offenders who will drive whilst disqualified and still drink beyond .05 or who have unregistered bombs that are continually driven.

[Road Games]

Drink and drive.... you bloody idiot !

/ thread

[Trek]

You know what would be smarter, economically? Allocating more jobs outside the police force, so as to not need this attempt at more revenue to support their sorry and undefined existences.

Some police definitely serve a purpose. Others do not. Why try to justify those who don't at the expense of the public, who are treated as targets and disrespected/distrusted initially outright?

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

This country STILL has an ingrained drinking and driving culture. Drive past any pub at lunch time on a mildly warm day and I guarantee the front verandah will be full of blokes in their hi vis sitting there knocking back a few. Now, im no expert but those same guys aren't about to hop in a cab to take them back to worksite or refrain from operating machinery for the rest of the day are they??
I visit many businesses in my course of work, and most Friday arvos at 4pm Ill be offered to join them in knocking back a few coldies before 5pm, the same people who will put away 3 or 4 then hop into their car and drive home. Some people don't get it when I tell them that as a sales rep I NEED my license to earn a crust, a license im not about to put in jeopardy for a few beers.

And the stats on these guys killing and maiming innocent families is??
What a load of crap!...
Fairdinkum, this country has turned into a nation of sheep that blindly accept anything govco throws at them!
It's about time people stood up and said enoughs a bloody nough!
We are ADULTS.. Not children. Drive DRUNK (which .02-03 AIN'T), sure, suffer the consequences! But enough of this draconion, big-brother BS!