Crystal Clear

D

DIVER

At the Start
Joined
May 2, 2003
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I've just returned from a break in Spain. On our last night we were returning from a show at 12.35am and along with everyone else going round a particular roundabout we were pulled over by the police and breathalised. I was pretty nervous about the ordeal because I'd had a couple of San Miguels and some Sangria. Anyway the crystals stayed the same yellow colour so I was politely sent on my way. Some were not so lucky.
Are Spain tightening up on drink driving?
Are their limits the same as ours (E U Standard or something like?)
 
Originally posted by DIVER@Nov 27 2005, 11:07 PM
I'd had a couple of San Miguels and some Sangria.
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It would depend on when and how you drank them, but I know I wouldn't have risked it.

About six months ago, I visited the big smoke and was offered a glass of wine at lunchtime. I accepted one glass and declined another as I was driving home later (about 8pm). My hostess, who is a bit of an expert in medical matters, said I'd be fine as the alcohol would be out of my system by then. She said four hours per unit of alcohol but since I thought it was eight I declined. I'm not particularly interested in what the actual norm is as I prefer to err on the side of caution but it's interesting that a so-called expert can be so categorical.
 
I'd had two pints of San Miguel between 7.30 pm and 12.30 am and had eaten a substantial meal along the way. The Sangria was, I believe, about 2% proof. Nevertheless, not knowing whether Spain had a zero tolerance level or not I was mightily relieved in the end.
Just to put my driving history into perspective, I've driven for 37 years and for ten of those I was doing in excess of 40,000 miles per year with my job. This is the truth: I have never been involved in an accident while driving and have never made a claim on my own car insurance.(I know I've been lucky)
The point of my thread was to try to ascertain whether anybody actually knew the Spanish rules.
I do not believe that anyone is a better driver with alcohol in their system than they are without it but I'm equally sure that there are people who, with considerable alcohol in their system remain far better drivers than some people are when they are stone cold sober. That is what infuriates drivers who do take a small amount of alcohol and drive and receive harsh criticism. Ban the bloody useless drivers we see every day of our lives.
5% of all road accidents involve someone who has been drinking. So, 95% of road accidents involve totally sober people. Banning sober people would reduce road deaths more effectively and would leave only drunks on the road to kill each other.
 
DIVER

There is, as yet, no EU standard for the legal alcohol limit for driving, although it has been suggested (by Neil Kinnock, amongst others).

The legal limit in most EU countries is 50mgs/litre. In UK, Luxembourg, Italy and Ireland it is 80mgs/litre. In Sweden it is 0.2mgs/litre.

I suppose you have learnt a lesson the cheap way....



...don't have the Sangria from that bar again - it's obviously as weak as piss!
 
Originally posted by DIVER@Nov 28 2005, 11:22 AM
5% of all road accidents involve someone who has been drinking. So, 95% of road accidents involve totally sober people.
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I find those stats hard to believe. I'd imagined it was much closer to 50%.

I'd go along with making it much harder to pass the driving test and I'd make people retake the test automatically after 20 years until the age of 60, then again at 70, 75, 80 etc.

Anyone who was at fault in an accident, I'd make re-take their test.

Maybe that way we'd get both a safer driving environment and a better public transport system!
 
Bar

Surely the point is that DIVER didn't fail the test and therefore didn't put anyone's life at danger (at least no more than any other driver). Unless you are suggesting that European governments are unable to set an appropriate alcohol limit.

The fact that he passed a test that is stricter than the one in the UK, suggests to me that he had every right to drive.
 
Somebody very close to my father died as a result of drink driving. That may explain why I am jumpy about such matters. Sorry if I offended you, Diver.

The fact that Diver said that he was pretty nervous about the test suggests that he thought that he may well have been over the limit.

I don't mean to offend you Diver, but I feel that there should be zero tolerance when it comes to these matters.
 
Diver - my sharpness is not directed at you, I have no business there.

It is just the overall social phenonomen in Ireland where the death rate is twice The UK - and the radio news reports on Saturday and Sunday morning are like grim and deadly scorecards.
 
Was just in Madrid last week. Bravo to you Diver for driving in Spain. The drivers over there are crazy. I had the scariest taxi ride ever last week, swear i was going to end up in hospital.
 
I spent 5 hours in the company of two lads who downed at least 20 units each in that time while I deliberately took care and drank four 'fun size' beers. I was absolutely certain about what my standing would have been in England but was concerned that they might have been more strict in Spain. As it was it taught me a lesson without failing the test. The crystals didn't change colour in the slightest. I can understand the views of those who have lost friends/relatives due to drunk drivers. I entirely agree with really severe penalties for such offenders. I also agree that the insurance premiums of anyone convicted of drink driving should be heavily loaded for three years or more.
 
Diver - I was informed recently by a good friend that over the last year or so Spain (or Andalucia at least) has imposed a zero tolerance policy on drink driving - it is just not worth risking given the powers the Guardia have in my eyes.

I respect that people have lost loved ones through drink driving but I agree with Diver I'm afraid in that I too will accept a drink, or maybe two if I am not to be driving for several hours. I also know someone who was lost through drunk driving - she was driving back from a wedding (stone cold sober) when a friend of hers who also attended the wedding got fed up of waiting for a cab. He took some people home in his car & whilst returning to pick up more he overtook a slow-moving vehicle on the crest of a hill, piling headfirst into Clare & her boyfriend's car; she was killed instantly at something like 26 years old.
 
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