The way this story is being reported is that MADD wants alcohol detection devices to be mandatory on any car used by any person convicted of any drunk driving offense. But sprinkled throughout these reports is something a little more sinister…
Boston Channel – November 20, 2006:
As the holiday season gets under way, there is a major effort to wipe out drunken driving in this country.
A new campaign calls for alcohol detection devices in every vehicle.
You have a few drinks, climb behind the wheel of your car, turn the key and — nothing. The engine doesn’t turn over, the car doesn’t move.
If Mothers Against Drunk Driving has its way, a device that checks a driver’s alcohol levels will be mandatory in cars owned by anyone ever convicted of drunk driving, and, eventually, every automobile.
ALCOHOL detectors may be fitted to all vehicles in the US after private and government experts agreed that the deterrence tactic used against drink-drivers for the past 20 years was no longer working.
If a drunk driver injures or kills someone, they get demonized..
If a sober driver injures or kills someone it is generally deemed to be an accident.. I’ve personally never understood this logic.
If sober drivers were driving within the rules and paying complete attention.. Will they never have an accident?
Although, I do agree, that if you hurt anyone while driving drunk that should be you last go at it..
But above all.. The crime shouldn’t be driving drunk.. It should be causeing others injury while driving..
Most accidents aren’t caused by drunk drivers.
MADD isn’t going to be happy until the legal limit for alcohol is 0.00%.
They’ve already been given that inch. That’s pretty damn obvious.
32 that may be true but when you purposely impair yourself before driving that is why you get demonized. You can screw up when you’re sober but if your plastered and you choose to get behind the wheel, thats essentially premeditation.
#25 Mr. shortFusion… good post on #14, exactly what I wanted to say but I liked your flare on this one. It also applies to tallwookie #19 who apparently needs some growing up to do.
#30
Maybe not a car accident, but marijuana was a contributing factor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase,_Maryland_rail_wreck
According to Wikipedia:
Engineer Gates later admitted that he and Edward Cromwell had been smoking marijuana and had overlooked the necessary safety precautions. Gates was eventually charged with homicide by motor vehicle, a statute in Maryland that specifies locomotives as motor vehicles.
that’s the arguement.. and like most arugments.. it is flawed
you’re assuming everyone that causes damage while driving over.08 premeditated it or did it purposely…
If someone is doing that.. lock em up/take away their liscense.. whatever
But when it’s an accident.. the scapegoat shows up as.. They had alcohol in their system..
I just think there’s more to it than that..
How foolproof are these devices anyway? Would something like using a can of air to blow in the hole work? Even if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be hard to find the person who just came to the bar to blow into the thing for you for $20 or something.
#37, Chris
It’s a fact that alcohol reduces your reaction ability and response time. It is also widely known, and also part of the driver test in all jurisdictions, that you will be responsible if you drink and drive. Drivers that have been drinking may not be the primary cause of the accident, but their diminished ability to avoid the situation may be a contributing cause and even increase the severity of the collision.
Again, your right to be stupid does not extend to sharing the consequences of that stupidity with other innocent people.
MY reaction?
Where is this test.. and how soon can i take it…
and also part of the driver test in all jurisdictions, that you will be responsible if you drink and drive..
Agreed!
Always resposible..even if sober
Fusion- obviously my rant was about the fact that they (MADD) would like to require this device in all vehicles. And I think you know thats what I was talking about. I am really tired of govt intervening in every aspect of our lives. No sane person supports getting behind the wheel when they are drunk. But I also dont believe seatbelts should be mandatory either. I wear one, because its the smart thing to do, I also wear a helmet on my motorcycle, even though I am not required to. You are a little too quick with the asshole switch.
How many of you complained whern MADD got there wish of lowering drunk driving levels to .08? I think this is too low, and renders void the drunk driving laws’ justification.
now we’re getting somewhere..
Trying to get technology to do what education and acknowledging your own responsibility is never a wise choice. The devices, no matter how sophisticated they are, are hackable and before you know it someone’ll come up with a bypass or something else so millions will be spent in the wrong direction. If someone is irresponsible enough to drive while drunk, what’s gonna stop him/her to go get the system hacked/bypassed or removed altogether???
MADD reminds me of that gun control group that Jim Brady’s wife was the spokesman for. They like, MADD had good intentions, but took it overboard to the point where they no longer seemed credible and people stopped listening to them.
Ok, I have to ask, why is this a bad idea? If you’re just a little over the limit, but still feel like you can drive, you’ll have to wait an hour or so before the car will work. Big deal. Go grab a slice of pizza or something and sober up a little. If you’re way over the limit, you shouldn’t have driven in the first place buddy. Leave your car where it is and get a cab home. Or sleep in your car. Either way, you don’t have to worry. Think of these things as anti-worry-that-I’m-gonna-get-pulled-over devices.
See the con side
Great…now people will be “designated blowers” …I can see every bar hiring one to hang out and …for a fee…blow in the tube. Sounds like a business opportunity for the LDS church, Muslims and other non-drinking groups.
MADD has good intentions, but let’s face it…they can get a little shrill.
Drunk driving is an issue, and a problem, but so is pot-impaired driving, and prescribed meds impared driving, tired driving, and angry driving. As far as all auto accidents go…we must also consider cellphone distracted driving, screaming kids in car spilling stuff distraction driving, and flat out tired out, overworked, sleepy driving. And, then there are the bald tires, mechanical defects, and cars that should be on the junk heap!
It’s all to easy to get a license, and people take driving way to casually, and our public transit systems (in most areas) were destroyed in the 50’s to make way for more cars.
MADD has too small a focus.
#47 – forget the pizza, it’ll make you fat. Fat people = higher healthcare costs for everyone. Accepting the premise that we have no self-responsibility for our driving but must be given permission by the state to even turn on the car means accepting that it’s ok for the government to tell us what to eat, how to live, how to dress, etc.
As for me, I’ll make a mint seling devices to disable these damned things.
It is beyond me that anyone would argue against it…oh wait thats right ….we are in America where the attitude is..” I dont give a fuck what happens to you as long as it doesnt infringe on my right to drink and drive and possibly smash your brains in or better yet your childrens’ ”
My bad…
I was actually talking about this with a friend the other day, after noticing the person in the car next to me using one.
I’m of the opinion that these things, being complicated devices, would be prone to breaking, which would limit their inclusion in vehicles severely.
Imagine if you couldn’t get to work because the breathalyzer in your car was on the fritz and either wouldn’t take any reading, or presented a false positive. Not to mention the problems with alcohol-based mouth washes…
50. Slaves with training wheels.
#16 The problem is drinking and DRIVING. If we had neighbourhood pubs, and better public transit, and less cookie-cutter subdivisions, then the problem would disappear.
Comment by Canucklehead — 11/20/2006 @ 3:10 pm
Drinking and driving may or may not be affected, but a billion other problems would be solved if we just carpet bombed all those god-awful cookie cutter suburbs.
As far as I am concerned, the suburbs is where frightened white people go to hide from culture and dark people… and cabins in the woods are just for miserable misanthropes.
Sure, I’m a misanthrope too, but I prefer to hate people face to face 🙂
#17If you live close enought together for public transit to work, you live in HELL. 10 acre lots for urban areas and bigger rural would be about right. In a desirable worl, it’s not possible to not drive.
That being said drunk driving ain’t the way to go either. Bars should have attached dorms where you can rent a cot and sleep it off. (Becasue, of course, not drinking is not acceptable either. 😉 )
Comment by MisterRustic — 11/20/2006 @ 3:19 pm
Speak for yourself. If I can’t get chinese food at 3 AM then I am in Hell… and I’m in Indianapolis, so I’m in the 13th largest city in the US and it is too damn small for me. In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have a car.
As far as I am concerned, New York and Chicago are the two absolute best places on Earth to live… and that’s only because I don’t speak the language in most of the cities that are larger.
But to stay on topic, I don’t drink and I don’t get the appeal. Most alcohol tastes like dog piss (not that I’d know) and drunks are idiots who deserve no sympathy.
I say, first offense, 30 days minimum. License suspension of 6 months or more. Got a job? Too bad, you aren’t going. And your employer will NOT be legally required to hold your job.
Second offense, at least a year. License suspension for 5 years.
Third… 3 years… You ain’t never driving again… and if anyone dies, ever, it’s premeditated murder.
If you think I’m being harsh, then try peeling a corpse off a tree or cleaning a baby off a windshield. If you think you can control a car after drinking you are wrong and you are an idiot. You should be in jail.
As you may know, I used to drive a cab and prior to that I bounced in a bar. Drunks aren’t funny or cute. It’s not a delightful phase. It isn’t harmless fun. Almost 100% of the time, when I’m involved with the cops, it also involves alcohol.
Social drinkers, copping a buzz, or pot smokers, or whatever, isn’t a problem. You can use drugs responsibly, in controlled situations. But operating a vehical under the influence is a crime that should be punished harshly and without compassion.
Maybe my view is colored by years of dealing with drunks and alcoholics, and from witnessing the devastation these people cause… but there it is.
#53.. and all i was trying to say.. is that those penalties should apply to everyone who causes an accident causing harm.. drunk or sober
Back Back Refresh
come on now the majority of people have all drove after a couple or even more drinks in their system. Does not make it any different. You just havent got caught.It doesnt make it right but dont be so judgemental or doublestandard. Look at society if it was such a big deal they would legalize it. Its a money maker people as if we didnt know. Its sad and terrible for all the fatal accidents but on the other hand people are surrounded by liquer all the time in entertainment. Resteraunts, movies, sports, numerious of events and you tell me how many of those people call for cabs. Not very many. I need a drink!
k chris i agree. The idias can go on and on its just this problem will contiune as long as there is alchohol. It just a big racket because people will continue this behavior for decades to come.
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