Do you drink and drive?

**Nanotech9** · 12-01-2004, 06:24 PM

Trying to get "regional" information on how serious everyone takes drinking and driving...

maybe better suited for the auto forum, but i was hoping for the most exposure.

Around here some people take it seriously, and dont drink and drive, some just say they do, and others... well, others have 13 DUI's and STILL have their license. Yep.

So, just curious.

Me personally, Well, i hardly drink as is, but no more than two Smirnoff's over a 2 or 3hrs is my self-imposed limit. If i've had a shot on an empty stomach, i'll try to sit for at least an hour before i drive.

True, one shot probably isnt enough to even affect me at all, but i wont take chances. People drive crazy enough sober as it is - i dont need my reflexes slowed even a little while i'm behind the wheel.

**Jenny** · 12-01-2004, 06:36 PM

Uh, you completely forgot the NO. Never drink before driving. option.

**nickel** · 12-01-2004, 06:37 PM

i will on 2 beers, but if i get into shots i know better than to drive. shots make me crazy. they sneak up and *bam*.

speaking of:

Crowd Beats Man Accused In DWI Crash

Nov 30, 2004 11:21 am US/Eastern
(NEW YORK) A Queens crowd pulled a man from a car and beat and kicked him because he crashed into young woman - pinning her between the car and a building.

Police say the car was stolen moments before from a nearby supermarket and the driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. His name was not immediately released.

Eye witnesses told police the car apparently swerved to miss a school bus at 110th Street and 174th Avenue at 3:15 pm yesterday, when it slammed into 18-year-old Roshonda Belt. She's listed in serious condition. Her friend - who was pushing a baby carriage - was grazed by the car - and the baby was unhurt.

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local...335112221.html

**Kim** · 12-01-2004, 06:38 PM

Nope, I don't drink and drive.

**blueindian** · 12-01-2004, 06:38 PM

yes, but i don't get drunk and drive.

**Hypnotist** · 12-01-2004, 06:50 PM

Used to... but no more. In fact, don't drink or anything anymore. Just better for me!

**DarkFury** · 12-01-2004, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Jenny

Uh, you completely forgot the NO. Never drink before driving. option.

It's not a smart thing to do...

**blueindian** · 12-01-2004, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by DarkFury

It's not a smart thing to do...

isn't that a subjective call though? seriously, 1 beer has no discernable affect on my driving so if I choose to crack a cold one to drink on the way to a buddies house I don't consider that "not smart".

**InfiniteNothing** · 12-01-2004, 07:05 PM

Nope. I have a relative who's CHP and between his horror stories and the sheer number of DUIs they get I figure it's a bad bet.

**GracieBayb** · 12-01-2004, 07:07 PM

of all the nights i've spent drinking - i've only driven once, and i had waited a couple of hours before taking off

**blueindian** · 12-01-2004, 07:08 PM

but if i have one beer, i'm neither going to be a "horror story" because of it, nor will i get a dui if i got pulled over. worst i could get is a $50 open container ticket.

**ski** · 12-01-2004, 07:14 PM

THIS JUST IN:

My roommate got a DUI last night.

Blew a 0.12.

Apparently the cop pulled her over outside his jurisdiction or something since he was a rookie, so she might be lucky enough to get a lesser sentence (with any other help from her lawyer), but I don't want to have to drive her everywhere now, so I'm hoping things will turn out as best as possible. I knew she would eventually get busted, but honestly, I've seen people who have had 2 beers and are legal drive much worse than her after a whole night of drinking... I hate to say it, but she's a good drunk driver. She got pulled over for speeding because the dogs hadn't gone to the bathroom in 6 hours (she's nuts about that), but still, she shouldn't have been speeding that late drunk or sober.

As for me I'll drive after drinking no problem. As long as I know I can blow under 0.08, I will drive. I can chug 4 beers, wait 30 minutes, and be technically legal to drive. As long as you know how your body's oxidation process works, you are fine (as long as you feel confident to drive as well)

**welfareloser** · 12-01-2004, 07:16 PM

i never drive if i've had more than two beers on that day, or if i've had anything to drink in the last two hours. just not worth it.

several of my single male friends will drive when pretty damned tipsy. i don't knwo any girls who do, or any guys with families who do...

**InfiniteNothing** · 12-01-2004, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by ski

THIS JUST IN:

My roommate got a DUI last night.

Blew a 0.12.

Apparently the cop pulled her over outside his jurisdiction or something since he was a rookie, so she might be lucky enough to get a lesser sentence (with any other help from her lawyer), but I don't want to have to drive her everywhere now, so I'm hoping things will turn out as best as possible. I knew she would eventually get busted, but honestly, I've seen people who have had 2 beers and are legal drive much worse than her after a whole night of drinking... I hate to say it, but she's a good drunk driver. She got pulled over for speeding because the dogs hadn't gone to the bathroom in 6 hours (she's nuts about that), but still, she shouldn't have been speeding that late drunk or sober.

As for me I'll drive after drinking no problem. As long as I know I can blow under 0.08, I will drive. I can chug 4 beers, wait 30 minutes, and be technically legal to drive. As long as you know how your body's oxidation process works, you are fine (as long as you feel confident to drive as well)

Maybe this is just California but you can be DUIed for less than .08
Here's a handy chart. CA is considering lowering the .08 level too.

**mcs328** · 12-01-2004, 07:34 PM

I don't drink if I'm going to be the driver. I usually leave before everyone else does so I can get a head start or wait until all the drunk ppl kill themselves.

**Yossarian** · 12-01-2004, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jenny

Uh, you completely forgot the NO. Never drink before driving. option.

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**Kevster** · 12-01-2004, 07:50 PM

I take it seriously if I have to drive. Otherwise it's, "Another Guinness over here! Thanks!".

I know plenty of people with one or more DUI convictions. I also remember well two people I grew up with that aren't here anymore because they both tried on different occasions to drive after drinking way too much.

**zenbooty** · 12-01-2004, 08:02 PM

My friends and I used to be bad with this. Down in New Orleans, its literally the culture, and just about everybody does it. NOBODY gives a **** if you drink and drive. Not even cops, once you get outside the downtown and tourist parts of the city. I had a friend get pulled over who had to ask the cop for directions to get home. He got off with a reminider to, "Take it easy now. You've had a few tonight so be careful." Another good friend got home once, parked on the street out front, then passed out on the wheel.

I didn't have a car there luckily, but thought nothing of riding along at the time. Blessed f***ng youth, eh?

**Nanotech9** · 12-01-2004, 08:31 PM

wow - good to see most of you do what i would consider the right thing and stay on the safe side...

i'm debating wether or not to start in on an argument here, but what the heck... this is what we do best here right? (argue

)

(as long as you feel confident to drive as well)

see, this is very subjective... couple years ago, at the company christmas party at a local downtown establishment, i was the only completely sober person. (i didnt drink back then). The purchasing agent was trying to drive himself home, except i rallied the help of a salesman to keep him from doing so. You see, he already had a couple DUI's, didnt have a problem driving drunk, and thought he could drive just fine while drunk.

This particular night he had at LEAST 5 shots, and a half dozen beers. The man literally FELL off the stool he was sitting on to the floor and i had to help lift him off the floor. The entire time, he was swearing up and down he was good to drive. He sure felt confident enough.... But, alas, the other salesman too him to a strip club to sober up.

The way i see it is thus... you may be able to navigate your vehicle in a straight line for the most part, and even see red lights and whatnot at an early enough distance to stop at them successfully. The problem with driving "partially" drunk isnt necessarily the normal driving situations, its the reaction time, and distance judgements, and all the stuff you miss (but you dont know you mis it because you MISSED IT lol).

when i was 18 i had a drunk girl make a left hand turn into me. She was in a car, i was on my first motorcycle. she hit me at about 15mph, and didnt manage to get on the brakes for a good 20', and it took her another 20' to stop. Her reaction time was that delayed. A sober drive may have been able to
a: see me in the first place
b: react quickly enough to hit the brakes and narrowly miss me
c: hit the brakes and only graze the bike

instead, she totaled my bike, narrowly missed severing my left foot at the ankle (thank god for plastic bumpers) and landed herself in jail.

i think is sad that drinking and driving isnt taken more seriously by people, ESPECIALLY cops. The same cop that will let someone well over the limit off the hook will turn around and write a $500 wreckless ticket to someone who is completely in control of a much lighter vehicle, but operating it on one wheel. Now how effed up is that?

**DankNstickY** · 12-01-2004, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Bradley_P.

Used to... but no more. In fact, don't drink or anything anymore. Just better for me!

**Memo** · 12-01-2004, 09:22 PM

I don't drink often, maybe once or twice a month, sometimes 0 times a month. Most of the time it's within walking distance from my house as well, so no driving. However, I'll always drive home if it's someplace else. I never drink myself dumb though

**brainsmile** · 12-01-2004, 10:01 PM

no no no

**bachviet** · 12-01-2004, 10:07 PM

If I have to drive within 2 hours, 2 beers are my limit.

**oblongmelon** · 12-01-2004, 10:22 PM

would never even consider it.

**RoniMan** · 12-01-2004, 10:30 PM

i don't drink...but i do drive...

**DarkFury** · 12-01-2004, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by blueindian

isn't that a subjective call though? seriously, 1 beer has no discernable affect on my driving so if I choose to crack a cold one to drink on the way to a buddies house I don't consider that "not smart".

You willing to take that chance with the cops watching you?

It don't take much to register .08 on a breathalizer... is it worth the risk to you?

Either way, it's still not a SMART thing to do... no matter how you slice it, but people are gonna do what they wanna do regardless.

Originally Posted by blueindian

but if i have one beer, i'm neither going to be a "horror story" because of it, nor will i get a dui if i got pulled over. worst i could get is a $50 open container ticket.

A $50 beer... wow, We gotta call in Brew about those.

**StonedWheat** · 12-02-2004, 12:45 AM

I used to drive drunk (not even that long ago), and my friends still do all the time. This may sound awful, but I can't think of a time that I went out and one or more people in our party didn't drive home intoxicated. Just last week on a tuesday, after drinking at a bar, I watched this girl that I just met try to open her car door. It took her 3 tries. Her first time she pulled and her hand missed the handle, and she took a few wobbly steps back. Thinking back, I should have stopped her from driving, but it seems so normal to see people I know drive home drunk without any consequences that I don't even notice it. I'm glad that this topic is brought up, because I think I really do need to start intervening when people obviously shouldn't be driving.

I was thinking about this today regarding myself too, because I've been very lucky that nothing has happened that was caused by my drunk driving. I realized that it is just a matter of time before something happens.

**Cheesypuff** · 12-02-2004, 01:42 AM

drinking and driving would have to be the farking dummest thing ANYBODY CAN DO!

my friend got killed by a fuking drunk driver! my friend was parked on the side of the road, getting some charcol for the bbq, when all of a fuking sudden, this fuking drunk driver comes squeeling down the corner and hits my friend! Guess who wins in that face off?!?!? Yeah...my friend is no more. How fuking selfish can people get?!? Oh, I wanna get home early but in the mean time...why don't I hit somebody on the way there!!!! FUK DRUNK/DRINKING/TIPSY DRIVERS

yeah...the guy only had 2 or 3 beers! THATS ALL IT FUKING TAKES PEOPLE!!! STOP DRIVING, YOU'RE A LIABILITY EVEN IF you've only had one or two! stop being so stupid! GOSH PEOPLE!!! wait 3 or 4 hours till you KNOW you're sober! GOSH!!!