Super Important - Drugs and Driving

[Raz]

I'm bumping this because I think it never really loses its relevance and we have a lot of newbies of late who may not have had a chance to have seen it.

--Raz--

 

[ButrosButros_Grantos]

I'd like to say to Victorians that just because Drug Testing has stopped for the time being there is no reason that you should not begin to have a designated driver on nights out for when it comes back in, also to keep you alive.

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

And just on the alcohol side of things......

Having just lost my liscence for 6 months for drink driving I'd just like to warn people not to get too cocky about just "having a few" and then driving.

I'd had only 3 glasses of wine, over a 2.5hr dinner at Taco Bills, no other substances, and blew around 0.07. They came out of no-where! I was turning a corner and just got pulled over at random.

I was feeling completely fine to drive. Six months cancellation of licence.

It aint fun, let me assure you. I can't even pop around to the shop to get milk, or the paper. I have to rely on two people to drive me to work and back - and I HATE asking favours. I feel so fucking terrible every time I have to ask someone yet *again* to take me somewhere, or pick something up for me, or pick me up from somewhere (there is no public transport out where I live). Losing your licence just strips you of your freedom and dignity.

Don't get fucking slack with those "couple of drinks", folks. You really have no idea how easy it is to be over the limit, or when you'll see flashing lights. I never thought it would happen to me!

 

[kryalkastleE]

Please please everyone think of P.T for two tribes this weekend. the station is not too far away from the venue, and think how we can terrorise the people at the station who have to work on a public holiday *mwahhaha*

BE SAFE

 

[ozbreaker]

It's been a month.

 

[BloSs0m]

This thread emerged in Drug discussion today.

read it here

 

[xcidium]

on another Drink Driving note:
For younger drivers, if you lose your licence it is 10x harder to get decent insurance, for a decent price.
I had a 95 lancer, standard as they come and I was paying $1200 a year for insurance, and that was 3 years after I got done for DUI.
Not nice.
Once they see the DUI on your record, your screwed for the next 5 years.

Definatley not worth the risk. Even if home is just a couple of km's away, get a cab and walk back to your car the next morning.
Think long term people.

 

[uTranceMe]

I recently got caught drink driving. I blew nearly three times the legal limit. I had a friend in the car with me. Its my second offence within 10 years (1st time 9 years ago). Im lookin at 2 - 3 years loss of licence. Its not worht it, even if you feel ok but you know your over dont risk it. Im grateful I never hurt anyone......

 

[- l - u - c - e -]

Someone I know was drug tested the other night. The cops didn't know how to read it properly and were trying to figure it out for 10 minutes, then let him go. He had just smoked a mix.
What's the point in having them if they don't know how to read them?

 

[ButrosButros_Grantos]

^^^You know, I hesitate about calling anyone a liar, but in this instance your friend is one. There are only two drug testing vans in all of vic, something tells me the cops at them know how to read information that gives a yes/no response...

 

[- l - u - c - e -]

^And one of them is in one of the (probably) most smallest towns in Vic? I've seen the bus myself.. I haven't been keeping up with the news or anything, but I doubt that if there is only 2 in Vic, one is here..

 

[lostNfound]

bump - (lest we forget)

 

[Strawberry_lovemuffin]

... Just got my licence back folks. And I still stand by what I said. I never , never again will take for granted the personal freedom and privilage that having a driver's licence brings. Even if you think you're cool, even if it's just around the corner, even if you don't think you'll possibly get caught, just take a FUCKING TAXI. I wish I had

 

[MooShiE]

One thing I must commend the Melbourne community for is encouragement to take Public Transport or Taxis.

When I lived in Perth drug/drink driving was a very very regular occurance. We never really thought twice.

Since moving to Melbourne, we are less likely to do so.... Ive never actually taken so many taxis out and about before or even thought of just jumping on a train or tram but in Melbs if we are partying in the city, its what we regularly do now dayz!!

I swear the Taxi Company knows my addy off my heart after the last few weekends and our treks across the city!! On almost all occassions we have passed the Drug Bus, which just concretes our great decisions even more so.

:D

Take Care Peeps

 

[scrumpytwo]

** Bump **

I have just heard an interview with woman who hit and killed DQ's father. It was on 774 ABC Melbourne radio today. A transcript of the interview will probably be made available on their website http://abc.net.au/melbourne/

It was amazing to be listening to the radio at work and for this interview come up. As soon as they said they were going to talk about drugs and driving I thought of DQ's father - and sure enough, that was what they were talking about.

Really makes you think about driving under the influence of anything - alcohol, fatigue, drugs or distractions such as mobile phones. 8(

 

[CHiLD-0F-THE-BEAT]

"MOTORISTS caught driving while under the influence of illicit drugs will automatically lose their licence under moves being considered by the State Government."

Article here.

 

[kryalkastleE]

^^^^
interesting.
i think its a good thing though.
i thought the 3 demerit points was a bit silly....

 

[shorza]

Taken from the first page:

This thread was started by De Quincey (DQ) on 8th February 2001.

His original post still says it the best, so for those that haven't read it before, if you read nothing else in this thread at least read the next quoted section:

Originally posted by De Quincey:

Hey guys this is really important so thanks for taking the time. i've got a story to tell with a moral at the end.

One summery morning earlier this year, a woman and her friend walked outside into the bright sun after a night of partying. it had been a good night, they'd had a couple of drinks and a pill each, but nothing out of the ordinary. They left the club tired after hours of dancing, and got into their car.
cruising home, the girl's friend fell asleep in the passenger seat. holding off yawns, the driver pulled onto a main road, glanced at the beach on her right and shook herself awake.

After a couple of kilometres, the driver slipped into a doze. her head dropped and the car began to drift. with driver asleep, the car drifted across 4 lanes of traffic, colliding with a group of three cyclists travelling in the opposite direction. the car kept going, crashing right onto the beach foreshore, flipping and sliding in the process. of the three cyclists, one walked away, one was seriously injured - spending the next week in intensive care, he is still in hospital and will be for some time. the third was killed instantly.

The man killed was my father.
The man in hospital is the father of a close friend of mine, my friend is also a bluelighter. [edit 4/10 he's made a 90% recovery now].

I tell you all this story because i hope it will make a difference somehow. the story is my own dramatisation based on facts gained from the police. i'm not in a position to make judgments on the girl for taking drugs or being a raver - having experienced the scene myself i know what goes on. all i want to say is PLEASE guys, when you go out, do it responsibly.

Don't drive when you're affected, or when you're really tired. catch a taxi, public transport or get a friend to pick you up. Or get a designated driver to stay sober - just like if you go out drinking.

Taking a responsible attitude can save lives, not just people like my dad, but the life of the driver (who was not injured) who has to live with what she did. and i'm sure if the press find out (which they most likely will) at the inquest into the accident that the driver had taken ecstacy at a "rave party", the papers will scream for raver blood. nobody wants any of these things to happen, ever.

I also want to make it clear that i'm not aiming this at anyone to cast blame, but it's a warning that if you come across these sorts of choices - particularly regarding driving - you know which choice to make. and you know why to make that choice

.

 

[shorza]

^^^
Just to follow up. I used to do drugs and then drive and no matter what anybody said, I thought I would be fine.

Well I am very lucky that I didn't kill anybody. I realised that it's just as easy to get the Night Rider or train home, and then i dont have to worry about me killing anyone.

I really hope that people's attitudes are changing.

 

[princess_kitti]

^^ me too! people who drink / drug and drive deserve to be keel-hauled

I always say to people who drive after a night out - what if you kill a baby?! they all laugh but then think about it ..... you are cutting someone else's life short or wrecking it irretrievably just by your own laziness and stupidity