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Drinking And Driving
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Under the legal limit I might add!
It never fails to surprise when my parents-in-law, two very intelligent people, will happily drink a glass of wine and then drive home. Maybe it’s a generational thing as none of my friends my age would dream of taking the risk. I would assume (hope!) that they are still under the legal limit after one glass but I can’t help but think their driving might be slightly impaired. They live 2 hours from us and, now it’s winter, will be driving in the dark so I would think they would need to be extra vigilant.
Should I say anything or leave them to it?
It never fails to surprise when my parents-in-law, two very intelligent people, will happily drink a glass of wine and then drive home. Maybe it’s a generational thing as none of my friends my age would dream of taking the risk. I would assume (hope!) that they are still under the legal limit after one glass but I can’t help but think their driving might be slightly impaired. They live 2 hours from us and, now it’s winter, will be driving in the dark so I would think they would need to be extra vigilant.
Should I say anything or leave them to it?
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This obviously concerns you - as it should, I have no time for anyone who drinks any alcohol and drives a car.
If you can find a subtle way of mentioning it, then do so, not because they will listen, because people stupid enough to drink and drive are not the listening types, but so you can hear yourself say it.
Then, if anything happens to them, you know you did what you were able to do to prevent it, and you won't forever feel guilt that you could have said something.
If you can find a subtle way of mentioning it, then do so, not because they will listen, because people stupid enough to drink and drive are not the listening types, but so you can hear yourself say it.
Then, if anything happens to them, you know you did what you were able to do to prevent it, and you won't forever feel guilt that you could have said something.
The glass/unit is only a guide. There are many factors that can take you over the alcohol limit. Your build, how much you have eaten, when you last ate, how hydrated you are, your general health and fitness - can all affect the reading.
But the majority of people will be fine on 1 glass, so best not to say anything, unless they are driving you or your children.
But the majority of people will be fine on 1 glass, so best not to say anything, unless they are driving you or your children.
You started your question with “under the legal limit, I might add”. The problem is that the legal limit is not quantified in terms of glasses of wine or pints of beer.
To drive legally you have to be able to pass an “Intoximeter” test at the police station which measures the alcohol in your breath (there are occasions when a blood or urine sample is used instead, but the principle is the same). The limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. That measurement does not equate to pints or glasses for the simple reason that there are too many variables which may cause one person to be under the limit whilst another, who has consumed exactly the same amount, can be over. Even assuming the amount of liquid consumed is identical, the strength of the drink, the amount of food eaten and when, the person’s metabolic rate, and even the weather can all play a part in how much alcohol enters the blood and how quickly it is processed and removed.
In short, if one of your in-laws is breathalysed at the roadside and fails and subsequently fails the evidential test back at the Nick, saying they “only had one glass of wine” will present no defence whatsoever. The price of failure is, of course, a mandatory disqualification for a minimum of 12 months over which the Magistrates have no discretion. As grown-ups the choice is theirs
To drive legally you have to be able to pass an “Intoximeter” test at the police station which measures the alcohol in your breath (there are occasions when a blood or urine sample is used instead, but the principle is the same). The limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. That measurement does not equate to pints or glasses for the simple reason that there are too many variables which may cause one person to be under the limit whilst another, who has consumed exactly the same amount, can be over. Even assuming the amount of liquid consumed is identical, the strength of the drink, the amount of food eaten and when, the person’s metabolic rate, and even the weather can all play a part in how much alcohol enters the blood and how quickly it is processed and removed.
In short, if one of your in-laws is breathalysed at the roadside and fails and subsequently fails the evidential test back at the Nick, saying they “only had one glass of wine” will present no defence whatsoever. The price of failure is, of course, a mandatory disqualification for a minimum of 12 months over which the Magistrates have no discretion. As grown-ups the choice is theirs
Just to add a different slant to all this, there is one insurer out there that will not only refuse to pay for damage to an ‘over the limit driver’s’ car but will also seek to recover from the driver any sums it has had to pay out to injured parties (which could be enormous). When I first noticed this, I had some sympathy with the insurer but the more I thought about it why not adopt the same policy for all motoring transgressions? After all, I’d imagine that more carnage is caused on our roads through excessive speed and, of course, there is now the mobile ‘phone issue.
My own view is that insurance is there to protect us from our negligence and, in some cases, sheer stupidity and further ‘punishment’ should be left to others. The driver will usually be banned, fined, may lose their job and even be imprisoned. Bankrupting the driver would be the icing on the cake for the driver’s family.
Let me stress that I’ve no sympathy for anyone that chooses to drive after even one drink. Just pointing out what could happen.
My own view is that insurance is there to protect us from our negligence and, in some cases, sheer stupidity and further ‘punishment’ should be left to others. The driver will usually be banned, fined, may lose their job and even be imprisoned. Bankrupting the driver would be the icing on the cake for the driver’s family.
Let me stress that I’ve no sympathy for anyone that chooses to drive after even one drink. Just pointing out what could happen.
Make a note of where a 'pub measure' of wine comes to on your glasses and just serve them that one measure. Then you know they are sure to be under the limit . A 'pub measure' is 125ml.
Make a joke of it if you like. Or just tell them you are so glad they are sensible and don't risk their licences.
I'm thinking are they both going to drive? I know couples who decide which of them is going to drive so the other can have a drink!
Make a joke of it if you like. Or just tell them you are so glad they are sensible and don't risk their licences.
I'm thinking are they both going to drive? I know couples who decide which of them is going to drive so the other can have a drink!
Meglet, you could try a gentle hint like buying them one of these for Christmas LOL.
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