Thread: RBT The Morning After.

Originally Posted by Basil135

There has to be a limit set in place, be it 0.00, 0.05, or 0.08.

The biggest problem is that people metabolise alcohol in different ways. I have friends who would be tipsy after 1 drink, but still be below 0.05. I have others that could down a half a carton, and still be legal.

I was at a friends place on New Years Day and had 9 beers over the course of the day from 1pm till 9pm. While I was not driving - my wife who didn't drink was my taxi driver, I was curious to see what my Blood Alcohol Level was. He and another person had an NRMA breath test unit.

We all used both machines and the others, who had been drinking beer, red wine and champagne registered differing levels from 0.06 to 0.15. None of these people were driving as they live within walking distance from my mates place. I registered 0.00. Both units had been recently calibrated so they should have been fairly accurate.

I ate a good lunch and full dinner which may have been a contributing factor. The point is how do you know what your level is? I was sure I would have been over the limit but I was not according to these units which are not cheap and promoted by the NRMA.

One of the girls who only had three glasses of champagne was the one that blew the highest whereas the guys who had been drinking steadily over the day showed a range of results much lower than her.

I never take the chance and when going out my wife and I share the designated driver duties. If I was however to have a day like the one mentioned above and then drove the next day what would my chances of being over the limit.

I remember when the limit in SA dropped from 0.08 to 0.05..

Almost overnight many social clubs and workers clubs closed down


I'm a supporter of 0.08 and believe the 0.05 is ridiculous.

And yes, have had a loved one killed in an MVA by a driver well over the BAC.

DUI and exceed PCA are very different things and I believe the DUI is more critical... As a previous poster remarked, I've seen people on their ear after 2 wines and seen people perfectly coherent and functioning after a bottle of Whisky.

The bigger risk, the one I think really is the major out there is fatigue.
Long hours, overtime, busy lifestyles... So many people are just buggered all the time... Wake up tired and control a MV at speed in traffic - not a great combination.

And whilst it can be covered under DUI we do not test like in the USA..

Originally Posted by Chenz

The point is how do you know what your level is? .

you dont. and thats why its safest to have a limit of zero

Originally Posted by Tombie

The bigger risk, the one I think really is the major out there is fatigue.
Long hours, overtime, busy lifestyles... So many people are just buggered all the time... Wake up tired and control a MV at speed in traffic - not a great combination.

steering wheel attendants

Originally Posted by Tombie

I remember when the limit in SA dropped from 0.08 to 0.05..

Almost overnight many social clubs and workers clubs closed down


I'm a supporter of 0.08 and believe the 0.05 is ridiculous.

And yes, have had a loved one killed in an MVA by a driver well over the BAC.

DUI and exceed PCA are very different things and I believe the DUI is more critical... As a previous poster remarked, I've seen people on their ear after 2 wines and seen people perfectly coherent and functioning after a bottle of Whisky.

The bigger risk, the one I think really is the major out there is fatigue.
Long hours, overtime, busy lifestyles... So many people are just buggered all the time... Wake up tired and control a MV at speed in traffic - not a great combination.

And whilst it can be covered under DUI we do not test like in the USA..

In NSW DUI is only used when a breath test cannot be administered for one reason or another. Police officers are viewed as experts by the courts when it come to determining a persons level of intoxication. But this needs to be backed up with well documented observations ie slurred speech, unsteady of feet, bloodshot eyes etc. we use PCA because as you mention we do things differently to the U.S. and get a roadside reading as an indicator, if you are under you go on your way, having said that you could be on the way up the alcohol curve and whilst under the limit at that point you could be over in 30mins time if stopped again. If you blow 0.05 or above you go back to the station and get tested on the more accurate breath analysis machine. If you were on the way down the alcohol curve when stopped your reading will be lower, if you were on the way up it may be higher.

The personal breath testing units are good but a guide only obviously. The ones in clubs can't be trusted, people have competitions to see who get get the highest reading. Out of curiousity on a night out I had 6 schooners over two hours so I tried the machine in the RSL club I was in and it said I was 0.039 which of course I wasnt.

Originally Posted by Tombie

......
The bigger risk, the one I think really is the major out there is fatigue.
.....

Fatigue is certainly a problem, but it is hard to contend it is the major factor when the statistics clearly show that a driver above the limit is ten times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.

Of course, no accident has a single cause, and a large proportion of fatal (and other) accidents probably involve both alcohol and fatigue, as well as other "causes" such as speed.

John