[Closed] I caught a drink driver this evening.

Is it illegal to drink while driving then?

Yes it is illegal to drink and drive, even tea or coffee, or to eat....but having a ciggy is some how ok

Wtf goes through some peoples heads to think its ok to do this?

Answer: nothing it seems....

You see plenty of people drinking coffee at the wheel, why is lager any different?

It's not different, unless you drink too much. The 'crime' would be driving without due care and attention.

It's outrageous! Stella, has he no taste.

Doubt Much will come of it

We'll of course it won't.

You gave the police a picture of a number a plate, which proves nothing, and from your description, the person in question was not breaking any laws.

FunkyDunc - Member
You see plenty of people drinking coffee at the wheel, why is lager any different?

POSTED 23 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Is that a serious post??

fenred - Member

FunkyDunc - Member
You see plenty of people drinking coffee at the wheel, why is lager any different?

POSTED 23 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Is that a serious post??

In fairness, the poster has never knowingly consumed six caramel latte's at Starbucks and then gone home to beat his wife.....

Saw a bloke drinking a can of Carling in his car in Morrisons the other day, he also had two children in the back.

****

Yes it is illegal to drink and drive, even tea or coffee, or to eat....but having a ciggy is some how ok

No! All those would be "Not being in proper control of a vehicle" including the cigarette. It's the same law they use to use for mobile phones until they made specific law.

fenred - Member
FunkyDunc - Member
You see plenty of people drinking coffee at the wheel, why is lager any different?

POSTED 23 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Is that a serious post??

In fairness, the poster has never knowingly consumed six caramel latte's at Starbucks and then gone home to beat his wife.....

Good point well made sir! 😉

Well I did think afterwards am I being a belligerent dick cyclist about it, And yeah you see people with Costa cups and cans of coke when driving every day, but really, drinking beer while driving is considered OK by the majority?

He hid the can straight away but didn't deny drinking, I guess he knew what my objection was long before I said a thing.

Dunno, he didn't look Much older than me, mid to lat 30s perhaps, mine being the generation that had it drummed into us that you don't drink and drive, I don't know anyone else who considers chugging a beer on the drive home an acceptable behaviour...

I suppose when you see someone literally drinking and driving on roads near your home, where your kids might be out, after passing all sorts pf pricks in the preceding 15 miles, yapping on their mobiles with apparent impunity, you are bound to get a bit wound up.

Dare I say it a helmet cam could have come in handy, but I don't really want to become 'that' fella...

Better driving than staying in beating his wife.

Better driving than staying in beating his wife.

Said he was "just having a can on the way home..." Sounds like a problem when you can't wait till you get home to have a beer, work stress? Trouble at home? Neither is actually an excuse for being a pisshead. IMO of course.

Could have been worse.
[img] [/img]

I can't say I agree with the culprits lifestyle choices, but they are just that - his choices.

When I was at secondary school I got a lift home once from my Geography teacher following an after school club. Halfway through the 20 minute journey she stopped at an offy, got a coke for me and four cans of lager for her, then ripped straight into the first can as soon as she was back in the car. At least I was able to thereafter enlighten my classmates as to the real reason for her perpetual lateness and grumpiness if we were her first class of the day.

a belligerent dick cyclist

yes
even before you mentioned your kids
still, you seem aware that you are 'that' close to being 'that' fella.

Well we should all question our assumptions from time to time, I assumed the fella was breaking the law, a quick googling suggests I was not fully up to speed with UK law on the topic.

As for daring to mention that I have kids, and that I might not want boozed up drivers on our local streets, Well it is something us dick cyclists consider important, you know you nearest and dearest's general safety... Sorry such thing offend your sensibilities...

He may not be breaking any laws but speechless that some folk leap to defend the asshole.
🙄

Boozed up? Was he drunk?
I reeeeeallly hate to be Mr Picky here, but drinking lager whilst driving does not equate to being drunk whilst driving. It might be a reasonable indicator, but I can drink alcohol and pass a breathalizer test after a can.

Someone I work with told me her ex-husband used to get through a 4 pack of Tennents Super (!) on his drive home after work every Friday evening 😯

Apparently you could tell he'd had a drink by the time he got home - I would have passed out by then in a car seat covered in vomit.

Does no-one else keep 'driving whisky' in the car then? Just a small nip - less than a unit easily. What could possibly be the problem?

He may not be breaking any laws but speechless that some folk leap to defend the asshole.

Whilst it might not be the cleverest thing to do, having a can in the car, morally can you tell me the difference between this and nipping into the boozer for a quick pint on the way home?

What's the problem with reporting this?
Police can either be waiting at the owner's address, breath box in hand (quick radio call) or stop him on the road
How do we know whether it's his first or his eighth?
I'd rather not be on the same road as him while he's drinking from a can and possibly not having full control over his driving, or worse...

Well said.

I regularly have a can of beer or two when I'm driving home, the journey is so stop-start anyway so I need something to do.

That 2% Carling that came out a few years back means I can fit 3 in and still be under the limit.

I always wonder when it's scorching hot, whether I'd get arrested for having my arm on the windowsill of the van to cool me down?

After ending up kneeling on somebody's car bonnet(another bike length further and i'd have been crushed between car and wall) due to a drunk driver, i'd prefer not to see any more of them on the road.

Who said he was drunk?

[quote=botanybay said]I regularly have a can of beer or two when I'm driving home, the journey is so stop-start anyway so I need something to do.
That 2% Carling that came out a few years back means I can fit 3 in and still be under the limit.

[img] [/img]

Nice one OP. Of course it may have been the driver's first one of the day, but I'm guessing most coppers on patrol would be wanting to have a breath test of any driver they spotted drinking lager at the wheel, as the odds of nicking a drink driver would be reasonable.

I've not got a problem with swigging from a can while sitting in a queue of traffic, but doing it while turning out of a junction marks him down as a careless **** anyhow, so he deserves to get pulled over regardless.

I'm sorry but some of you guys totally amaze me some days. You wouldn't operate heavy machinery at work and drink lager whilst doing so, why operate heavy machinery in public and do the same?

http://www.brake.org.uk/news/15-facts-a-resources/facts/480-drink-driving-the-facts

I am willing to accept that my reaction was perhaps a bit overzealous, but this driver was aware that what he was doing was not cool (quite how comfortable he was that it was legal I don't know) he knew precisely what the MAMIL he was faced with had an issue with, and got stony faced and defensive, I'd have expected that someone certain they were in the right would just take the piss out of my attire TBH...

Seriously at ~18:00hrs on the way home travelling through a built up residential area how many of you feel the burning need for a can of wife beater then and there? I mean you simply can't wait till you get in, You Must have Beer ASAP?
Shirley that's "problem drinking", or at least an indicator...

OK so his blood alcohol might not have been over the limit yet, then again it might have been, should I have assumed that it was one of those [I]sensible drink drivers[/I] we're always hearing about in the news? That it was his first, or his third can?
On balance I still feel it was the correct thing to challenge and report what I believed to be, at best, irresponsible and antisocial behaviour...
I'm sure some of you would have made much better on the spot judgements being the experts you are...

Should I have left it as his driving hadn't yet reached the weaving and bouncing off lamp posts stage instead?
Possibly, but maybe when He'd calmed down he might have had a think about whether or not he should be imbibing beer behind the wheel...

TBF I didn't take the same sort of exception to the various Phone users I saw on the way home, all of whom were breaking a very specific law.
If I did strap on a helmet cam for a day's commute I reckon I could gather video evidence for at least three or four FPNs, and help Thames valley plod with their stat's. But like I said I don't want to start down the "helmet-cam warrior" route, its not my job, I don't enjoy confrontation (which would probably be inevitable) and I'd rather just enjoy riding my bike, but general attitudes to simple laws and basic behaviour aimed at improving everyone's safety on the roads are being ignored, and it is starting to grate a bit...

I have to say I think this might be an odd occasion where the Yanks have a better approach, in most states simply having open alcohol containers within a motor vehicle is an offence, end of, its unequivocal everyone knows the rules, drive it home before you open it... UK law could do with sharpening up on this point IMO.

As it stands the Fella I encountered yesterday is a fine, upstanding member of society so long as he stays within the limit... 🙄

In Alaska it's illegal to have alcohol within reach whilst you are driving, so if you have an unopened can of 'beer' on the passenger seat along with the rest of your shopping they'll do you.

Gets to be a bit of a problem if you only have a two seat pick up and its 50 below outside.

I'm sorry but some of you guys totally amaze me some days. You wouldn't operate heavy machinery at work and drink lager whilst doing so, why operate heavy machinery in public and do the same?

Calm down. There was a thread the other day about how much people would drink and still drive. The majority (might have been vast, or overwhelming, can't remember) said they'd be happy driving after a small amount of alcohol, lots of comments about how much you have to drink to be over the limit, how much can still be in your bloodsdtream the next day, how being tired or arguing with a passenger can affect you more than a small amount of alcohol.

There were a few people who said they prefer not to drink anything, but generally the discussion reflected the fact that we don't have a zero tolerance law or attitude in this country about driving after drinking.

People here are saying there's no difference between driving after a can or two, and drinking the same amount while driving.

That aside: Swigging whilst turning is silly whether it's Vimto or Stella; there are class judgements available for use regarding the choice of beverage, and further extrapolations about behaviour and moral fibre to be made from seeing someone drinking whilst driving in a city.

Im a 100% behind the op and his actions he took.
If anybody thinks they can get in a car and carry out another activity; whether its on a mobile, drinking, smoking, eating then they are poor drivers and the law is not tough enough on clamping down (ok i get that there are not enough police to enforce this).
My wife and i both work in a profession where we see the impacts of crap driving; a family all killed because dad answered his phone, a car load of teenagers wiped out because they were drink driving (one of the lads head was found 50m from the car).
A car is a lethal weapon and should be driven with care and respect.
Surely as cyclists you all understand that?

I think you did the right thing. If he'd gone on to knock down and kill someone - and you knew you'd done nothing about it then how would you feel.

I had a similar thing at a takeaway a few months ago. Was sat there waiting for my order. Guy comes in steaming drunk (could hardly stand) talking about his birthday party... collects his order, gets in his car and drives off. So I took his plates and reported him to the police.

Not criticising the OP or particularly advocating having a drink before/while driving (but staying under the legal limit), but I don't think we'd be seeing the same level of outrage about driving while tired/distracted, which is apparently at least as dangerous, or sipping from a coffee in a travel mug.

We were driving down the A1 when I bloke drinking a bottle of lager went past. We phoned 111, they took the details and dispatched an unmarked car. Traffic was slow, so they kept us on the line to offer commentary provided it was safe to do so. We saw the unmarked Audi pull him over, the phone call was ended. They rang us back and confirmed he was drinking Becks, but hadn't drank enough to be over the limit. They were now looking at what else they could find to add to driving without due care and attention. Or in the words of the police, being an idiot.

In reference to the OP, you've done the correct thing. How do you know how many the driver has had, it may be their first can, it may be the sixth

I dont see what the OP did that was wrong?

People can be habitual drinkers/alcoholics and need constant alcohol just to function throughout the day.

He could have been on his first or he could have been on his 5th or 6th can. Only the Police stopping the fella would know this.

A few years ago two children reported their mother for drink driving. She'd drank so much daily that she was basically a functioning alcoholic. On the day that they reported her though she had two bottles of wine in the morning (more than usual) and was driving them to school as per usual.

looking inot it a bit further the "Just the one" argument might be more tenuous than I'd actually thought...
looking at this lot:

[url] http://www.80mg.org.uk/guide.html [/url]
[url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Artois [/url]
[url] http://www.breheny.com/www.homeoffice.gov.uk/knowyourlimits/stay_safe/units.html [/url]

Apparently Stella is a "Premium strength larger" (in the 4.8 - 5.2% ABV range).

So it looks like the fella was in the process of taking on ~2.2 units over the course of his commute home, the approximate guideline limit is 4 units for an "Average" male (and he looked pretty average), so that one can could have taken him past the halfway point, if he'd had a cheeky lunchtime pint or two, or was actually on his second commuting can, then he may have actually been much closer to the limit than he realised...
How many "daytime drinkers" stop at just the one?

Handy table for the casual alchy that third one, I for one shall limit myself to just three shots of Tequila on the drive home tonight, because I'm a responsible motorist. 😉

One can of Stella would put you over the drink drive limit and your not telling me he has decided to have his first can as he is driving home?

I hate drink drivers, there is no reason whatsoever to drive after having a drink.

One can of Stella would put you over the drink drive limit and your not telling me he has decided to have his first can as he is driving home?

Doubtful, unless you're very, very small. As the article linked to says the average male can have approx 4units without exceeding the limit. One and a half cans and you're playing with fire, one can and you'll be ok in the eyes of the law.

Anyway, I thought the laws only applied in you're over 55, drive a Jag and are a member of your local golf club.

Or is that when they don't apply...

You probably did right cookea. Chances are it was actually his second can.

If it had had been his first one and he was sure he would pass a breath test, he'd probably have got out and given you a slap for not minding your own business. If he'd had 3+, he'd have probably got out and given you a slap because he felt like it.

😉

Well done OP - Markus Wolf would be pround of you !

I don't know why we don't have a 0mg drink drive limit.

Well done OP, pity more people don't take action.

One can of Stella would put you over the drink drive limit and your not telling me he has decided to have his first can as he is driving home?

On its own, no that one can would not, technically, put him over the limit.
Its worth noting "The Limit" is a measure of blood alcohol, for the UK its 0.08%. Normally this is extrapolated from a breath sample where 350 microgrammes of alcohol per litre of breath or more is found.
The Rozzers treat this as an indicator of excessive blood alcohol, but normally a confirmatory blood sample is taken at the station I believe... Blood alcohol content is what actually impaired you.

Of course if you've just been swigging 5% larger moments before giving a breath sample I'd imagine you might just get yourself arrested on the breath sample, and lose a few hours being taken in, having a blood sample taken and processed only to get a BAC result below 0.08%...

Guidance on what and when to consume prior to driving is just that, [I]guidance[/I], not hard and fast rules, its all approximate, and your BMI, metabolism and anything you may have drunk over the preceding 12-24 hours will all affect your blood alcohol content to some extent...

I believe there was a case not too long ago where one force had to overturn a whole load of Drink driving convictions due to questionable evidence, they had apparently been wiping suspects arms with an alcohol swab before taking blood samples... Urban myth? who knows... but when you are looking for slightly less than 1% BAC it doesn't take much to edge the results...

Theres a lot of blatant trolling going on on this thread, or Im so out of touch its scary!
Anyways, I'd never consider drinking ALCOHOL behind the wheel of the car, it just seems totally wrong.

One can of Stella would put you over the drink drive limit

No it wouldn't.

and your not telling me he has decided to have his first can as he is driving home?

Unless you are actually him, you can't tell anyone otherwise can you ?

I hate drink drivers,

Me too.

there is no reason whatsoever to drive after having a drink.

Of course there is.

Sometimes I like to sit after work and have a nice beer and a bit of food with some friends. and I work 30 miles from home, so afterwards I drive home. Well under the limit.

And there is no reason whatsoever why I shouldn't do it either.

Think the trolls on both sides are mixing up the law with personal opinion as to what the law should.

Rightly or wrongly, it is not illegal to drink alcohol while driving, or to have some in your bloodstream. The fact that he was drinking alcohol while driving would make me, and I suspect quite a few coppers, thi k it would be worth reporting and/or breathalysing him.

Not sure I'd have made the call unless his driving made me think he was definitely over the limit.

Nealglover

One can of Stella is equal to 2.2 UK units, the legal limit is 2 units, it even says this on the can.

Your attitude stinks, if you going for a drink then don't drive, i have a 70 mile round trip everyday for work but I wont have a "swift" one after work, I don't even drink during the week.

Nealglover
One can of Stella is equal to 2.2 UK units, the legal limit is 2 units, it even says this on the can.

I don't drink Stella so I've no idea what it says on the can.

But if it does say 2 units is the drink driving limit, then that's not correct.

Your attitude stinks, if you going for a drink then don't drive,

The shit coming out of your high horse stinks worse.

It's perfectly legal for me to have a drink and then drive home, well under the limit.

Why do you have such an issue with me obeying the law ??

i have a 70 mile round trip everyday for work but I wont have a "swift" one after work, I don't even drink during the week.[/quite]

Not sure what you want me say ?

Well done 😕

 

[Edit - post crossed with Neal.]

Calm down, philfive.

The ligal limit is not 2 units. It's a percentage of alcohol in the blood, so its can't be any number of units. It's sometimes stated that the maximum units an average male can drink and be under the limit is 4, but just as often stated that it's hard to judge how it affects you, and it's safest not to drink anything.

Bit off to say his attitude stinks. He has a pint then drives. Well under the limit. perfectly legal. Plenty of things more dangerous than that, fiddling with the radio, changing a CD, talking to someone next to you. Being a little bit sleepy.

One can of Stella is equal to 2.2 UK units, the legal limit is 2 units, it even says this on the can.

Nah, the UK's legal "Limit" is 0.08% Blood alcohol content, "Units" are a rough guide to a drinks alcohol content, mostly for the benefit of people confused by percentages. Units are often erroneously confused with the actual legal measure of driving pissed, or indeed the number of pints one can drink, I've had people confidently tell me 1 pint = 1 unit in the past, a handy universal rule for those wanting to neck 2 cans of Tennent's Super before driving anywhere...

Bit of 3rd party guidance on the topic:

To ensure you run no risk of being "over the limit":

Immediately before driving:
- men should consume no more than 4 units, women no more than 3

Very roughly one and a half pints or two cans of Ordinary strength (3.5 - 4%) beer, straight before driving for a ~12 stone male and he [I]shouldn't[/I] exceed the limit*...

That's what you might call normal social drinking...
I'm not sure being sat on your own in a moving car quaffing Stella, counts as "social drinking" though.

I couldn't find any guidance on how many units it was safe to consume [B]While[/B] driving, only prior to driving, suggesting its not the expected norm for most drivers...

(*Please don't cite this post as part of your defence...)

Stockholm syndrome - that's what a bunch of you obviously have - also how do you know said ' offender' wasn't drinking Stella 4 ? Nobody likes a snitch ....

Nobody likes a snitch ....

Sorry but that should be left behind in the school playground where it belongs.

Nobody likes a funeral, drink driving is still a major contributing factor in road deaths, yes we don't know whether the guy was over the limit or not, but not all of us are so liberal with the law or potential law breakers, perhaps if a few more people spoke up a few more families wouldn't have been devastated by drink drivers.

"Units of alcohol" is health-related rather than driving-related
milligrams and micrograms are driving-related

You can't equate the two, we're all different. The legal limit is what it is, but you could be unsafe as a driver at below the limit and, because alcohol is a depressant, not even know it

"Well I feel great after a few", because it depresses your inhibitions. Simples