Drinking and driving....

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

The lady I am seeing lives in central NJ so I have gotten very used to both jughandles and traffic circles. Love em both. They keep the traffic flowing.

A few traffic circles have been constructed in Delaware that are on my commute to work. I'm always amazed how some people here can't figure them out. Had one person stop in the circle to let another car enter once, almost causing me to rear-end them.

I got used to traffic circles in Europe; they’re putting some in my neck of the woods and had to remove the two lane ones because of too many accidents. I also liked that at four way stops, you defer to your right when arriving at the same time.

 

[psuro]

I got used to traffic circles in Europe; they’re putting some in my neck of the woods and had to remove the two lane ones because of too many accidents. I also liked that at four way stops, you defer to your right when arriving at the same time.

Went to Italy last year for a family wedding. 65 miles between the airport and the hotel where I was staying. I counted over 120 traffic circles. It's like driving in South Jersey.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Went to Italy last year for a family wedding. 65 miles between the airport and the hotel where I was staying. I counted over 120 traffic circles. It's like driving in South Jersey.

Tunnels in Italy drove me nuts. About 100 or so from Germany to Southern France via Switzerland and Italy.

 

[PeetzPoolBoy]

I got used to traffic circles in Europe; they’re putting some in my neck of the woods and had to remove the two lane ones because of too many accidents. I also liked that at four way stops, you defer to your right when arriving at the same time.

I actually think "traffic circles" are a test of intelligence. The Europeans are naturals, the Hispanics are pretty good, while most U.S. natives are very confused.

That said, there is something about immigrants in the greater Dallas area who just don't grasp the basic concept behind two drivers attempting to make simultaneous left-hand turns - one oriented along the major flow of traffic and the other who is isn't (i.e. the person trying to turn into the major flow of traffic)

The "immigrants" generally defer to the opposing driver attempting to make a left hand turn into major traffic while they (in the course of being in the major flow of traffic) hold up not only themselves but every driver behind them.

I'm still trying to understand their reason. It's either (a) a lack of understanding or (b) a lack of insurance.

 

[Ranger Dan]

...I am posting this for no other reason than it's cathartic to me to get this off my chest.

An acquaintance (not really a friend, just a guy I would see at my local watering hole from time to time), was arrested last week and charged with two counts of homicide. In January, he left the bar after "a couple of beers" and drove his high end German sedan home - at a high rate of speed. For those familiar with New Jersey, we have jughandles - aka, stay right to turn left.

He tried to make the turn at the jughandle, lost control, jumped the curb, and smashed into a minivan, pushing the van and it's occupants into a small waterbody. The two people in the van drowned.

He was physically fine, although shaken up. Subsequent investigations indicated his "couple of beers" were actually eight beers, based on interviews with the bar. Police estimate that he was going over 90 MPH - all while trying to navigate a turn.

His toxicology reports came back last week, and based on that, he was arrested and charged with homicide, and a couple of other offenses.

His wife, a doctor, has filed for divorce. And she is pregnant with their first child. His company fired him (he was in IT). His parents/family don't have the means to help him out. So, he has nothing. He is in jail, and based on what some local police told me, it does not look like he will be able to afford a high priced lawyer, and will have to settle for a public defender. He has told the police he wants to end his life rather than spend time in jail.

He is 29 years old.

He has ruined two families, and possibly more extended families, by his irresponsible, now considered criminal, act. And he may spend the better part of the next 20 years in jail.

I don't understand people nowadays, with all we know about drinking and driving, why people still do it. One Uber call and the couple in the minivan would be around today, and he would still be a husband, soon to be father.

I just don't get it.

Great public service notice, with the advent of Uber, it’s hard to believe that anyone would take this kind of risk. I do believe that some people actually believe that they aren’t drunk, even though they legally are. I had a friend when I was in my 20’s who claimed to be a better driver when drunk. He’s since had two DUIs, so I guess the police were not in agreement.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Another good post.

Interestingly, my wife has a case where two people (lesbian couple) got into a fight when one wanted the car keys when she was drunk. A wrestling match ensued. The drunk one called 911 and claimed domestic violence. The other, when the cops showed up, tried to explain but the cop grabber her arm as she was walking backwards. She slapped the cop's hand away. Two cops tackled her, tased her and arrested her for resisting, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. I simply no longer know what society wants us to do sometimes.

I try to be a law abiding citizen and have a great amount of respect for the work and risk that police officers ensure. Specifically, domestic disturbances are one of the most dangerous calls that police officers can make. That being said, this is why there are protests about police brutality. Those two women had a disagreement and instead of de-escalating the situation, they ended up abusing their power.

 

[demlion]

I actually think "traffic circles" are a test of intelligence. The Europeans are naturals, the Hispanics are pretty good, while most U.S. natives are very confused.

That said, there is something about immigrants in the greater Dallas area who just don't grasp the basic concept behind two drivers attempting to make simultaneous left-hand turns - one oriented along the major flow of traffic and the other who is isn't (i.e. the person trying to turn into the major flow of traffic)

The "immigrants" generally defer to the opposing driver attempting to make a left hand turn into major traffic while they (in the course of being in the major flow of traffic) hold up not only themselves but every driver behind them.

I'm still trying to understand their reason. It's either (a) a lack of understanding or (b) a lack of insurance.

In 1981, I recall being in a cab in Abu Dhabi with a Brit and a couple coworkers, as the Brit had a complete meltdown, including out the window screaming at local drivers, regarding something he kept calling "lane discipline!" in a roundabout.

It's a lack of understanding. Americans are, if anything, worse.

 

[JohnHenry87]

How expensive is it to install ignition interlocks on cars? Why are those only installed on cars for DUI offenders? I would appreciate having one in my car where, even if it doesn't lock my ignition, at least tells me that I'm legally sober to drive. I always stick to beers under 6% ABV, no more than one per hour and never more than four in an evening even if I'm out more than four hours.

According to this chart, at my weight (180 pounds), four drinks puts me at 0.08 -- the legal limit in PA. However, I take off 0.01 for each 40 minutes. Over four hours, that means I drop 0.06 meaning my BAC should be at 0.02 (or less) when I'm ready to head home.

I follow these rules religiously, but would still like something more official to tell me I'm safe to drive.

http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html

Get one of these. I’m not a big drinker, but it’s always in my car just to be sure never over 0.08. For 100 bucks, why chance it? Accurate and works great.

 

[swordsman_l]

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/crime/article197690504.html

.231 for Centre County head judge.
Just saying....

 

[Roar More]

Dude, I go out every weekend and can not believe the amount of alcohol consumption I see by the youth in this Country - every weekend. I'm baffled.

Also, with GOOGLE, YouTube etc, I can not wrap my head around how people STILL drink and drive; smoke cigarettes, etc. It's like they have no access to the real world.

I just don't get it. I have become a pessimist. HUMANITY IS DOOMED.

Until it happens to you, consequences for alcohol abuse is something that happens to other people. I always told my kids that to everyone else, they were other people.

 

[Roar More]

Why should "greater society" (aka "The Majority") need to suffer under yet another government-mandated inconvenience caused by individuals (aka "The Minority") who happen to purposely choose "negative, life-altering decisions"?

I bet the families of the dead could answer that question for you.

 

[PeetzPoolBoy]

I bet the families of the dead could answer that question for you.

They would be part of the “minority”

 

[nits74]

Good thread, ro. And I'm impressed with the honesty of all of the posters here with respect to past incidents of lack of judgement. Most of us have been there at one time or another, and have been fortunate enough to have not paid such a steep price. Now that said, gotta say not even on my worst days would I have been driving at 90 mph.

 

[PennsylvaniaPride]

Damn, sucks on all accounts. Yeah, I don't get it either. I have a pretty decent tolerance, but if I had 8 beers, I would be pretty flagged and in no shape to drive. If I have a few beers, I drive home like a freaking grandma. No way I'm breaking the speed limit and taking any risk.

My guess is that this guy has done this kind of thing enough that it seemed like it wasn't a big deal. Play those odds enough and you are going to lose.

Yeah I don’t understand people who speed like no other when intoxicated.

 

[TheBumble]

My mom's youngest sister was run over and killed by a drunk driver while standing at my grandparent's mailbox. She was 18, two weeks from high school graduation. I didn't know her that well because I was young but I watched what it did to my family members. It was almost 30 years ago but things will never be the same. Drunk driving is something that will cause a genuine rage to build up inside me. It's 100% preventable. Just make good choices.

 

[Frabjous]

Went to Italy last year for a family wedding. 65 miles between the airport and the hotel where I was staying. I counted over 120 traffic circles. It's like driving in South Jersey.

Same thing in France with the traffic circles, which seem to take the place of stoplights. Google Maps works just fine in France and the circles are not bad at all when you know your exit.

 

[Nitt1300]

My mom's youngest sister was run over and killed by a drunk driver while standing at my grandparent's mailbox. She was 18, two weeks from high school graduation. I didn't know her that well because I was young but I watched what it did to my family members. It was almost 30 years ago but things will never be the same. Drunk driving is something that will cause a genuine rage to build up inside me. It's 100% preventable. Just make good choices.

the law is way, way too lenient on drunk drivers

 

[pandaczar12]

Good point. Root cause of the accident was going 90 mph in a traffic circle, whether drunk or sober that is not going to work. Now the reason for the speeding/reckless driving was impaired judgement from being drunk.

If you can give a reason for what you consider a root cause, then it's not a root cause. For example, if I miss a flight because I was driving slow, and the reason I was driving slow was because it was snowing. The root cause is not that I was driving slow.

 

[TheBumble]

the law is way, way too lenient on drunk drivers

The woman who killed my aunt was sentenced to 4 years but spent less than a year in prison. That was tough to take. The woman who ran someone over, crashed into a fence, and walked around the yard drunk yelling "WHAT ABOUT ME?!" when the first responders showed up... less than a year.

 

[Nitt1300]

The woman who killed my aunt was sentenced to 4 years but spent less than a year in prison. That was tough to take. The woman who ran someone over, crashed into a fence, and walked around the yard drunk yelling "WHAT ABOUT ME?!" when the first responders showed up... less than a year.

yep- there are many, many examples of that kind of situation- and people with multiple DWI convictions who somehow aren't in prison. I'd give them life, or let them out when the person they killed comes back to life, whichever comes first.