Drink Anyone?

Do we need changes in the law? We would like to think so, otherwise ministers would just leave it alone, or would they. Back in the days of the Wigs and the Tories it was all about law for those less fortunate, law to settle disputes, law regarding taxes, the list goes on, but has it really changed.  A law is rushed through parliament when something has happened that is damaging to society, the Government responds but when is it enforced? This is going somewhere so bear with me. Enforcement is equally slow, the Corporate Homicide and Manslaughter Act is a good example, introduced in 2007 but not enforced until 2008, this law is being rewritten regardless of an update in 2010, so obviously it wasn't right the first time. A robust law that is losing it's teeth it seems.

So drink driving, the latest angle to prevent young drivers from drinking is that they will lose their car, so where will we store them then, or is it expected to be such a rip roaring success that nobody will drink and drive again.  Although young drivers, also known as adults, are in the frame, research from Europe suggests that over 45's are more likely to drink and drive, particularly those in rural areas. Well I can agree with that, I know of a little pub in Suffolk where all of the locals have a drink and drive home, probably because it is so remote their is no taxi service, and the nearest house apart from the ones by the pub are about five miles away. Not one of those is under 45.

So as a society have we already typecast the young driver? The figures for young drivers who drink and drive are based on stop and breathalyse as young drivers are more likely to be stopped, or do something that brings them into the spotlight, have we made a terrible error and let the regular drink driver off of the hook?

How many times is Mr Average stopped, driving along in his car with the children and his wife, who are just as likely to have had an afternoon in the pub garden while the children play, I know it happens I've seen it, sitting with my children sipping diet coke while a few pints and some footy later they all pile into the car and drive off.  The risk is the same but they are harder to spot.  Will their recklessness make the paper over the teenage tearaway, I think we all know it won't because that does not carry the same worth in the media.

The Government is working on it's belief that a twelve month ban is enough of a deterrent nobody will get behind the wheel after just one drink, I have been involved in research for my book that says that just is not true.  Of course a driving ban has always been the punishment for drink driving, or longer if the outcome had serious consequences.  However, if a driver is prepared to break the law for the sake of a couple of drinks, then why on Earth would they obey the law after a driving ban and leave the car at home. So then we have an unlicensed, uninsured drink driver on the road. There are so many more ways that drink and drive could be dealt with, unfortunately our politicians believe that a measly £740k campaign is the answer. Sorry chaps I don't agree.

copyright 2013 A.Green, this article may not be reproduced in whole or part without express permission of the author