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Thread ID: 138666 2015-01-03 17:23:00 Drink/driving toll myth Greg (193) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1391439 2015-01-04 18:05:00 The first road code booklet from the old Ministry of Transport that mentioned blood-alcohol limits had a graph showing that you had to have a fair amount to drink before the accident risk was as high as a driver who had a zero alcohol level. A low b/a level made drivers measurably safer than a zero level subject.
Based on that, non-drinkers are a known hazard and should be rigorously hunted off our roads.
R2x1 (4628)
1391440 2015-01-04 18:34:00 I would like to know how many deaths are caused from people being idiots. .

http://www.darwinawards.com/
pctek (84)
1391441 2015-01-04 21:05:00 Heard some interesting stats the other day on Top Gear which made me laugh.. it's actually safe to drink and drive...

Yeah, back in the 70s when people started taking bombs on planes, it was said to be safer to take a bomb with you when you fly because the chances of two bombs being on the same plane were miniscule. A good example of how to misuse statistics

Also back in the 70s, when drink-driving was starting to become an issue, the Authorities conducted an Education Event at Wellington's Town Hall (in what is now called Civic Square) where members of the public were invited to drive through a slalom, have an increasing amount of alcohol, and keep repeating the course. They were supposed to knock down a lot of cones as they drank more.

Embarrassingly, the drivers proved to be better on the second, third... tries. It was only when they approached leglessness that they showed impaired driving ability. The Authorities quickly called off the event and never spoke about it again
BBCmicro (15761)
1391442 2015-01-05 00:08:00 Sounds like a poorly designed test, alcohol impairs your reaction times and ability to stay alert and focussed not your ability to steer. They should have sudden unexpected obstacles etc to not a repeatable course you will naturally get better at with practice.
At my 21st I got hammered and parked my car in a paddock behind the hall before getting a ride home. The next day when I went to retrieve it I discovered it had less than an inch clearance to fit through the gate I had cruised through unconcerned the night before. Doesn't mean I would have been safe driving home, I could barely stand.
dugimodo (138)
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