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If the goal is to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the roadways, then devices/conditions implicated in distracted driver incidents such as cell phones (even hands free), eating, DVD players, and passengers should be prohibited first.
Eliminated those will save way more lives than changing the BAC limit from .08 to .05. The difference between those two limits is so insignificant, they really may as well lower it to -any detectable BAC- which is the law in some countries already.
If the goal is to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the roadways, then devices/conditions implicated in distracted driver incidents such as cell phones (even hands free), eating, DVD players, and passengers should be prohibited first.
Eliminated those will save way more lives than changing the BAC limit from .08 to .05. The difference between those two limits is so insignificant, they really may as well lower it to -any detectable BAC- which is the law in some countries already.
What research do you have to back up your claim that dropping the limit from .08 to .05 is insignificant? Is the difference between .11 and .08 significant? What about .14 and .11? You have to draw the limit somewhere. Your argument that cell phones, eating, and passengers should be banned before the BAC limit is dropped is also asinine. There are numerous behaviors people engage in behind the wheel that are dangerous and should be all attacked simultaneously.
I see people driving around every day with an impairment of at least 0.1. They're called old people.
All this "impaired driving" BS is just do-gooder feel good jargon. Your sick, you're impaired, sleepy, impaired, work problems, family problems, dry eyes and allergies, physical pains and ailments, mobility issues, phone alerts, etc. There are more crashes from turning a radio knob than drunk drivers...FACT.
Obviously people aren't responsible enough to change the station and drive at the same time. Outlawing radios in cars is as lame as this law.
The main problem with drinking and driving and why its still happening and will continue to happen indefinitely is because the punishment is a COMPLETE JOKE and isn't a deterrent in the least for alot of people. You get caught driving over the legal limit you pay a fine and maybe lose your license for a little bit. So what? You injure or even kill someone while driving drunk and worst case scenario you might get a few years in jail at most. Yeah it sucks, but its not that harsh a punishment for you taking a life.
As I've said before, the ONLY WAY that the problem of drunk driving will become a thing of the past or at least severely reduced is when THE PUNISHMENT IS HARSH AND NON-NEGOTIABLE. Namely there needs to be mandatory jail sentences that comes with you killing someone under the influence that can't be negotiated or plea bargined down. If you drive drunk and kill one or more people, then its at least 10 years in jail for each death the offender causes NO QUESTIONS ASKED where a high priced lawyer can't argue the sentence down for you. You killed someone, 10 years for you. DONE. You're crying about spending a decade in jail? Too EFFING BAD. You should've thought about that before you got behind the wheel drunk and killed someone.
Even lesser offenses need to be brutally punished to get people to change their habits. For example the first time you get caught driving drunk, its a $1000 fine and you can't drive for a month. If you're caught a second time within 3 years, then its a $10,000 fine and 6 months loss of license and if you're caught again within 3 years, then mandatory 1 month in jail. And then from there the punishment is ever increasing jail time because if 1 month in jail isn't enough to change your drunk driving habits, then you need to be taken off the roads and out of society, because clearly you're not fit to live in normal society when you can't even follow a simple rule of not drinking and driving that not only places your life in danger, but everyone else's as well.
I GUARANTEE YOU that if such harsh punishment was put in place and was enforced with ABSOLUTELY NO WAY to plea bargin down these punishments, that drinking and driving would DRAMATICALLY DECREASE in a few short years. I'm quite sure that there are many people out there where if they're caught once or twice and slapped with these heavy punishments, it would be enough to change their habits. For those who are chronic offenders where they will drive drunk no matter what, its time to throw them in jail longterm and keep them there until they decide they REALLY want to change or they can rot in jail forever.
I feel this is pretty much the ONLY WAY that people will stop drinking and driving for the longterm. By harsh punishment that no one can squirm out of. Once people start seeing others getting charged and thrown in jail without remorse, they will understand that the government isn't effing around and they will fall in line. Anything less than this will never be enough to alter people's habits.
When was the last time somebody was killed by a drunk driver who blew around .08? Every time I hear about drunk drivers killing it's always way over 1. .08 is like having 1 beer for most people unless you relax for an hour while drinking it.
I get that you have to establish a # somewhere. Just seems like this is a way to get more people into trouble therefore make them become criminals. Probably a way to make them ineligible to buy guns too.
Location: Free State of Florida, Support our police
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I have been lucky enough to test myself with a breathalyzer. Personally even at a .04 I have felt it somewhat. I also have tested myself at over a .1 and 100% there was no way I should ever be behind the wheel of a car. Also after testing myself I was able to test myself hours later to see when I was legal to drive again. It took hours to drop down. I drink once a week. I either am out with the understanding that my wife is the designated driver or I am at home with neighbors. I will not even have one drink and get behind the wheel. Its not worth getting arrested. More importantly its not worth hurting an innocent family because I decided to be stupid!!!! Lastly most of the cops I know don't arrest someone unless they are over a .1. Its not worth the time or effort to take them down to be tested to have to cut them loose because their BAC has dropped below the limit!
What research do you have to back up your claim that dropping the limit from .08 to .05 is insignificant? Is the difference between .11 and .08 significant? What about .14 and .11? You have to draw the limit somewhere. Your argument that cell phones, eating, and passengers should be banned before the BAC limit is dropped is also asinine. There are numerous behaviors people engage in behind the wheel that are dangerous and should be all attacked simultaneously.
That's his point. They should do it all, but they'll only go after dui.
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