Driving Under the Influence

hurlsey · 26-01-2015 01:56AM #1

There are many many problems with sentencing in our legal system however this one quite frankly makes me sick every time I see it in the news

Why are drivers who kill(IMO murder) innocent bystanders, other drivers, not sentenced more harshly? Or why can there not be legislative change to upgrade this to murder?

IMO it cannot be manslaughter when a person gets into a vehicle drunk or under the influence of a drug or drugs?

It just makes no sense to me at all!!

It's an insult to the victims and their families

Kevin McCloud · 26-01-2015 02:00AM

Thats irish law op.

The Backwards Man · 26-01-2015 02:00AM

Not going to change any time soon I'm afraid.

Don't know if it's a nationwide thing, but I've noticed drink driving becoming more and more socially acceptable in my area again, judging by the amount of people doing it and the complete lack of enforcement to prevent it.

Mehaffey1 · 26-01-2015 02:04AM

Try looking at other country's before analysing the Irish penalties. 24 hour ban and the equivalent of 3 penalty points here in NZ if caught just over the limit.

I went ballistic talking to a secretary from my immigration company who was lamenting about not being allowed 3 pints before driving. I stood up in the meeting and said " How can you argue that every unit affects your driving and how could you live with yourself if you crashed and hurt/killed someone? " before walking out.

Kevin McCloud · 26-01-2015 02:06AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Don't know if it's a nationwide thing, but I've noticed drink driving becoming more and more socially acceptable in my area again, judging by the amount of people doing it and the complete lack of enforcement to prevent it.

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

BMJD · 26-01-2015 02:10AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

can they not do something that doesn't involve having pints??

Kevin McCloud · 26-01-2015 02:16AM

BMJD wrote: »

can they not do something that doesn't involve having pints??

Older generation used of the habit, no death statistic that i can think of.

Sofiztikated · 26-01-2015 02:18AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Older generation used of the habit, no death statistic that i can think of.

Do like everyone fúcking else, and organise a taxi, or a Dessy Driver.

Oh we have to drink and drive, get fúcking real.

Kevin McCloud · 26-01-2015 02:23AM

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Do like everyone fúcking else, and organise a taxi, or a Dessy Driver.

Oh we have to drink and drive, get fúcking real.

You do realise one can drink and drive within the legal limits? Try getting a taxi in the countryside and loose the foul language its immature and pathetic.

guppy · 26-01-2015 02:48AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Older generation used of the habit, no death statistic that i can think of.

You're right of course, nobody has ever been killed on country roads due to driver intoxication. Why the f do we even have these laws in place?

I assume that's what you're trying to say?

NotASheeple · 26-01-2015 02:51AM

hurlsey wrote: »

IMO it cannot be manslaughter when a person gets into a vehicle drunk or under the influence of a drug or drugs?

It wouldn't be so bad if they actually served time for Manslaughter. But sadly, it rarely happens.

Kevin McCloud · 26-01-2015 02:59AM

guppy wrote: »

I assume that's what you're trying to say?

Dont ever assume anything, big difference between D11 and the countryside.

guppy · 26-01-2015 03:07AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Dont ever assume anything, big difference between D11 and the countryside.

Great answer.

MarkAnthony · 26-01-2015 03:11AM

The glib answer is going to be the law is an ass.

The laws (in this area atleast) are made by the legislative branch of the government. You elect the government. If you feel it needs a change then you have the power to change it.

MarkAnthony · 26-01-2015 03:12AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

You do realise one can drink and drive within the legal limits? Try getting a taxi in the countryside and loose the foul language its immature and pathetic.

Bearly and many who try are over the legal limit without knowing it.

MadYaker · 26-01-2015 03:12AM

hurlsey wrote: »

There are many many problems with sentencing in our legal system however this one quite frankly makes me sick every time I see it in the news

Why are drivers who kill(IMO murder) innocent bystanders, other drivers, not sentenced more harshly? Or why can there not be legislative change to upgrade this to murder?

IMO it cannot be manslaughter when a person gets into a vehicle drunk or under the influence of a drug or drugs?

It just makes no sense to me at all!!

It's an insult to the victims and their families

You need to look up the definitions of murder and manslaughter.

MarkAnthony · 26-01-2015 03:19AM

MadYaker wrote: »

You need to look up the definitions of murder and manslaughter.

That would be difficult given there is no single legislative definition of manslaughter and pointless as it can easily be applied to drink drivers. It's not because we have specific statutory offences and it's easier to apply those.

Beyond that the OPs point is a valid one. Regardless of what it's called why do people not receive harsher sentences. I'll leave it to the resident experts to go through those.

Sofiztikated · 26-01-2015 04:02AM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

You do realise one can drink and drive within the legal limits? Try getting a taxi in the countryside and loose the foul language its immature and pathetic.

It's lose, not loose.

How many people do you know, how many family members have you had, killed by drunk drivers? Me? 1 brother, and far too many friends. I'm sick to the fúcking teeth of people caterwauling about how they "have" to drink and drive.

And buddy, I'm looking outside now, fields as far as the eye can see. Up until 2 am most nights, and 4 on a Friday and Saturday, I can have a taxi here. There might have to be a bit of a wait, for it to get here, but get it I can. There are, literally, thousands of taxis and hackneys in Ireland. If there's none in your area, well then, start one.

Akrasia · 26-01-2015 10:08AM

Drink driving is a sh1tty thing to do.

Luckily, we're only 5 years away from commercially available self driving cars so the carnage on the roads could be a thing of the past within 10 to 15 years

I put much more faith in engineering a solutions to this problem than I do on trusting people to not break the rules on drink/drug driving

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/google-hoping-to-speed-efforts-to-bring-self-driving-cars-to-market-by-2020-1.2068479

TheDoc · 26-01-2015 10:15AM

Living in the countryside as an excuse is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

I can't get a firearms license because I live in an urban area. I don't just go and get a rifle anyway.

The Backwards Man · 26-01-2015 10:18AM

Akrasia wrote: »

Drink driving is a sh1tty thing to do.

Luckily, we're only 5 years away from commercially available self driving cars so the carnage on the roads could be a thing of the past within 10 to 15 years

I put much more faith in engineering a solutions to this problem than I do on trusting people to not break the rules on drink/drug driving

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/google-hoping-to-speed-efforts-to-bring-self-driving-cars-to-market-by-2020-1.2068479

If there are autonomous cars on country roads in twenty years time, never mind five, I'll eat my hat

whisky_galore · 26-01-2015 10:20AM

Think overconfidence and excessive speed are far worse than DD. I see a lot of large, mainly older cars making very dangerous overtaking manoeuvres in the middle of the day, playing chicken with oncoming traffic pretty much.

Reoil · 26-01-2015 12:46PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Think overconfidence and excessive speed are far worse than DD. I see a lot of large, mainly older cars making very dangerous overtaking manoeuvres in the middle of the day, playing chicken with oncoming traffic pretty much.

What does the size of the car have to do with anything?

whisky_galore · 26-01-2015 12:53PM

Reoil wrote: »

What does the size of the car have to do with anything?

Don't know, maybe its the demographic that might buy an older, larger and hence cheaper car.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-01-2015 12:57PM

However much of a complete idiot a drunk driver is they don't get behind the wheel with the specific intention of murdering someone that's why its manslaughter

The_Valeyard · 26-01-2015 01:05PM

I have done many stupid, shameful things when drunk.

Have never ever drink and drove , and I have no intention of ever doing it, just one of those things.

RollieFingers · 26-01-2015 01:18PM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

Try saying they are not a danger to people who have lost family members to drunk drivers, you absolute gob****e! Tell them to move out of bog land and closer to civilisation if they fancy a few scoops.

Akrasia · 26-01-2015 01:26PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

If there are autonomous cars on country roads in twenty years time, never mind five, I'll eat my hat

There already are, not in ireland, but in Europe and the U.S. there are autonomous cars driving on intercity and rural roads without any driver intervention.

It's much easier to get the cars to drive safely on rural roads compared with cities, but even city driving is in advanced testing at the moment.
http://www.citylab.com/tech/2014/04/first-look-how-googles-self-driving-car-handles-city-streets/8977/

We're at a point now, where the biggest barrier to automomous cars is the legal framework, not the engineering requirements. The first few generations will be expensive, but mass production of these sensors will rapidly bring down their cost. Electronics are expensive to design but cheap to manufacture in large volumes.

Timberrrrrrrr · 26-01-2015 01:27PM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

Of course they are a danger!

Eutow · 26-01-2015 01:44PM

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Alot of people are prisoners in their own homes, country people traveling on minor roads and having a couple of pints and the chat imo are not a danger.

And those "couple" of pints are never just a couple.

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

Dont ever assume anything, big difference between D11 and the countryside.

So, you are suggesting there should be a different limit for different parts of the country then? While we're at it, have different limits for different times of the day and night as well.

Pathetic.

Driving Under the Influence

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