Here in Victoria recently road safety campaigners have been active in getting onto the government agenda the debate over whether to lower the driving blood alcohol limit from 0.05 to 0.02. The usual do gooders are out and about telling anyone who'll listen that this initiative will "save lives". That's all well and good, but where are the stats to firstly back up this argument? We're talking about imposing a fundamental cultural change onto the community that will change the way people go about their daily lives and interact with others. So every time for example an elderly couple go out to dinner, they better think again before having that second glass of wine, because they may end up being labeled a "drunk driver".
So getting back to the "saving lives" argument, I believe before we even seriously consider this proposal, the onus is well and truly on the safety campaigners to the provide a body of evidence that shows that there is a serious and significant cause of AT FAULT fatalities caused by drivers with a blood alcohol content between .02 and .05. If you cannot provide any data that shows it to be anything other than negligible, then you cannot sustain your argument to completely change the community's social interactions.
no need to think about it in croatia - it's zero :)
ReplyDeletebut is it enforced?
ReplyDeleteIn the year 2020 (no that far away), the alcohol limit will be -0.02.
ReplyDeleteYes, thats correct, its not enough to have NO alcohol in your system, you need to have a NEGATIVE amount.
"But thats ridiculous?"
Oh, no.... we use a cumulative system where we measure your past drinking record and through a complicated set of calculations, we measure your "Alcohol Level Quotient"... abbreviated as ALQO.
Be warned
Savvas Tzionis
yes, it gets enforced. we are broke, the state needs money :)
ReplyDeletebtw. statistical data say that since the beginning of this year till today 356 people were killed in traffic accidents, which is nearly 40 percent less than the same period last year
Jasmina, what was the limit last year?
ReplyDeleteSavvas Tzionis
Savvas, I just found out they've changed the law again (last month). Haha. But, here's the catch: you are allowed to have an alcohol level of 0,05, BUT, if you get involved in some accident it is forbidden to have more than 0,00! Even in a situation where the police stops you for some routine check, discovers some minor violation like you forgot to turn your lights on. This minor thing gives the police officer the right to put you on a breathe analyzer test, if he discovers more than 0,00 - you have to pay for this "crime". What do you say about this law?!
ReplyDeleteWell, its better than a flat 0.00 limit!
ReplyDeleteSavvas Tzionis
Jasmina, I actually kind of like that law, I can see the method to the madness. If you can't be seen to be breaking any other traffic laws then you can have an 05 limit, but God help you if you cause an accident. That fits in with my libertarian tendencies, leave me alone to enjoy my life, but punish me if I go off the rails:)
ReplyDeleteBut on the downside (especially in somewhere like Croatia), a law like that will just encourage police corruption and bribery?
Savvas, we had this zero limit for quite some time (2 years or so), it was changed back to the one I told you about ... which I relised two days ago! Haha.
ReplyDeleteNikita, I don't know what to think of this law, I never drink (yes, even though my pictures maybe tell another story) so I don't worry about my alcohol level or if a law got changed. I'm against a combination of alcohol+driving. I really don't know where to draw the line whether or not someone is capable of driving. It's individual I guess. I would bet you can drive after 1 glass of wine (lets say 200ml), where I'm almost drunk. Let's say, 0,05 is fine, but you have to behave responsible and know your limits. And now, Balkan mentality is entering the arena ... yes, "balkaniš" people (mostly the male sort, sorry) tend to exaggerations of all kinds. There is always some "slava" or some other family gathering, party ... you name it. They drink and drive. Try to mention a taxi or something! What? Taxi? Me? Are you f** nuts? And now, say hello to bribery and corruption. Bribery and corruption will never ever be banished from the Balkans. (Even though our ex-PM is in prison now for corruption. That's another story). I don't know about Greeks, but the first thing someone would ask you - do you know someone to fix it for me? Example. You need an appointment (doctor, public service ...) and the secretary tells you the first one you can get is in 2 weeks. Now what? You call someone, who knows someone who can fix this problem. You get your appointment the next day (and of course, because you are a well behaved person you have to give him/her a small "sign of appreciation" aka gift). This is a mini example, I don't want to go deeper now (bribing politicians with $, fixing tenders blah). It's just a way of life. Don't get me wrong, I completely disapprove it, but these are the facts. One last anecdote. In January 2009 I went to surgery (maybe you remember), everything turned out perfectly, I was talking about how quick I was scheduled for surgery, doctors and nurses were nice, even the head of the ORL department did the surgery. You know what people asked me? How much did you pay to get such treatment? I said, nothing, I didn't even call someone "to fix it" or "look after me". Not one of them believed me!
that mentality of corruption/bribery/patronage is still prevalant in Greece, but I suspect not to the same scale as places like Croatia. Being in the "EU club" has helped to change their ways somewhat, but as the whole place descends into anarchy due to the austerity measures, then they may go full circle? Ps. I still can't get a straight answer as to what the alcohol limit is in Greece? Near my village they always do alcohol tests, so I always have no more than two vodkas for the night when I'm driving....and as for when I'm not driving.......he he
ReplyDeleteDon't Drink & Drive:
ReplyDeleteBe careful not to drive while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent. If you are above this you will pay a fine. If your blood alcohol content is over 0.08 percent it is a criminal offence and in most cases the driver will be detained. The alcohol level is monitored with breath tests carried out at random road stops.
or ... http://www.safetravel.co.uk/EuropeDrinkDrivingLimits.html
btw ... read what our US friends are suggesting about greece. SAFETY AND SECURITY: The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1127.html#safety
:)
"0.5mg is equivalent to one small beer", ah ha, this is what I'm talking about, this is a different measuring standard to the blood alcohol content of 0.05 in Australia. The 0.05 in Aust is equivalent to about 3 standard drinks?
ReplyDeleteyou know a guy's drunk when he tries to drink from the breathalyzer ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03OPcn80Uzs
ReplyDeleteand I love the professionalism of the cops too. lol
ReplyDelete