What would you suggest as the best deterrent to drink-driving?

Question

I have been in the catering and wine trade for a long time and have seen many unscrupulous drivers take the wheel after more than the legal limit. I have known people convicted of drink-driving offences and known people injured or killed by drivers over the limit. Since those who drink and drive do not expect to get caught or have an accident (and thus are not scared of any possible ensuing penalties or damage to people or property), how might you suggest we keep this scourge off the roads to protect the innocent lives driving while intoxicated can damage?

I would like to re-emphasise that, in my opinion, tougher sentencing would be NO deterrent as people who are caught did not expect to be. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and makes you think you are capable.

Answer 1

Best deterant would be better public transport and taxi services. I mean take Christmas for instance. The police do there anual clamp down on drink drivers, ok cool. But what are the viable alternatives where I live there are no evening buses (same in surronding villages) Taxis are at least £20 before 11pm and between £30 - £40 afterwards. Loads of people I know drink drive, as there is no viable alternative. If we are to combat this problem we need to make getting around easy and cheap using alternaive methods. I know people in my pub that would use a bus if they could! The government spending some money on this could most probably save a load of lifes, so it has to be worth it?

Answer 2

As a clue I can only give you the example of my native country...France.
People caught have there driving licence suspended unless they attend different accompanied visits in hospitals to meet people injured after an accident caused by alcohol>>>>>>>80% aren't never caught again !! Those who are caught a second time have a longer or definitive suspension of there driving licence or accept for a few days to be with special ambulance units that only go on car crashes>>>>>>another 80% finally understand !!!!!

Answer 3

If you are in the catering and wine trade, does this mean you are actually serving any of the beverages at an event? If so, you need to be the one to limit the alcohol consumed.

Otherwise, as a waitress that serves alcohol and an ex banquet server that served LOTS of alcohol, I always checked on who the driver was. If there wasn't one, I explained I could no longer serve them OR told them if they would like any more drinks, they would need to find an alternative ride home, via cab or friend.

If you are just trying to educate people on the dangers, there's no better education that actual testimony, photos, incidents, etc. A picture paints a thousand words...

Answer 4

i saw the other day a woman who got convicted in the usa for this, and she cant start her car until the breathliser instaled in it has been breathed into and she has passed, i think all cars should have this, then the car wont start and they wont be able to drive it, i suppose it would cost a few bob to put in, but its worth it if it saves lives!, i also believe there should be a limit instead of being able to drink to pints or whatever it is, there should be a no tolerance, no drink at all! that might stop people having the odd one or two, and then still failing the test

Answer 5

I'd just like to point out to 'ihate hippies' that a similar system operates in my area. It's called scooterman (I think!). The idea is that you become a member, and whenever you have driven to a party or a pub etc and had a few tipples then you ring them up and they arrive on a scooter. The scooter then pops into your boot and they drive you home. A clever idea, but I expect a few people would be put off by a stranger driving their car.

Answer 6

higher penelties woudl be a visible deterent.

but in reality we need to find a way to catch more people, the penalties are already quite stiff, its just that people are not likely to get caught


Cars that auto detect alchohol in the car. They could either disable the engine, or fire a dagger from the steering wheel into the chest of the driver.

Greater public condemnation. Many people seem to see drink driving as a badge of honour, there is little stigma to it

Answer 7

If u kill someone then u should get life hurt someone 10 years and just caught over limit banned for life and one year in jail and these sentances should be with out parole none of these stupid sentances and 12 month bans it doesn t scare people the law in this country is ridiculous the reasons the sentances are so low is because they don t want to send all the judges and jps and high rank officers to prison

Answer 8

i think that if you are done for drink driving on top of any fine, prison sentence, insurance hike you are given you should have your car taken away by the police and it should be sold.
the money should be given to a charity who help people affected by idiots that drink and drive eg people injured by them or families who have lost someone.

it may not work all the time but should help deter repeat offenders as buying a new car is expensive and a lot of people who do it are business men with nice jags and mercedes.


p.s the breathalyser in the car doesn't always work as you can always get your passenger to blow into it

Answer 9

Hey there!

You could simply call time on booze supply simply by finding some other product to retail!

Intoxicated pedestrians also end up in body-bags as a result of being maimed / killed by innocent (booze-free) drivers such as myself.

We innocent can lose our right to employment, (our careers), our families as a result of you capitalising from the supply / distribution of toxic substances to (unlicensed), equally irresponsible creatures.

Insurance Co's could refuse cover to both drinkers as also smokers, they could also refuse to cover any booze related accident. The guilty party could be refused any further driving licence / insurance for life. These measures could be imposed by law.

Sadly no deterrent ever works!

The only way forward is compulsory education on the subject for all school children as an integral prelude to the driving test.

Answer 10

Hi early childhood research indicates there would be significant road safety benefits in concentrating traffic safety education activities on the early childhood years that is, the years 0 to 5. The best means to maximise road safety learning in the early childhood years is to provide parents/carers with information that will motivate and assist them to be good road safety role models. Programs and products will be developed which target young children under five years of age via their parents/carers.Arrive Alive is the saying here see link.