Drink-Driving Links
Note: the presence of a link in this section does not imply that Sense on Drink-Driving agrees with all, most or indeed any of the content of the site.
Links outside this site will open in a fresh window.
- A Fairer and More Effective Solution
- The response of the Association of British Drivers to the government's 1998 consultation paper on reducing the drink-drive limit. This must be the most serious and sensible thing I have ever read on this subject - and entirely written from the viewpoint of road safety rather than concern for the future of pubs.
- Combating Drink-Driving: Next Steps
- The government's original consultation document on the proposed limit reduction from early 1998. When it says that there would be "no compliance costs" from a lower limit, despite the fact that even its strongest advocates accepted it would lead to a large number of pub closures, then you know this is a shoddy and half-baked piece of work. The report on the results of the public consultation at least acknowledged the threat to pubs, although it was somewhat dismissive of it.
- BBPA - Drink-Drive Position
- Position of the British Beer and Pub Association (formerly the Brewers and Licensed Retailers) on the potential reduction of the drink-drive limit. Unlike CAMRA they were prepared to stand up and be counted on this issue.
- National Motorists' Association (USA) - NMA's Position on DWI
- A sensible and well-argued page from the US equivalent of the ABD. Quote: "A law enforcement officer cannot be looking for swerving, careening drunks if he is tied up with the processing of some miscreant who had four beers at the church picnic and blew a .09% BAC, after a traffic stop for a burned out license plate bulb"
- American Beverage Institute
- Contains an interesting presentation on the issue of lowering the drink-drive limit from 100mg to 80mg in the USA (for which you will need Acrobat Reader). The issues are much the same as those in the 80 - 50 debate here - and it is worth noting that a 100 mg limit applied in Ireland until the mid-1990s.
- Drink-Driving - Why the Fuss?
- A very wordy site, but well worth downloading, and gives a different and challenging perspective. Readers should note that I don't by any means agree with everything that author Gordon Haines says, but this is an interesting antidote to some of the extreme and emotive views that we often hear on this topic.
- AIM - Alcohol in Moderation - Drink-Driving Section
- Site aiming to promote responsible and moderate drinking that provides a digest of press articles and research concerning the drink-driving issue
- Alcohol: Problems and Solutions - Drink-Driving Page
- A serious and responsible American academic site produced by Professor David J. Hanson of New York State University, that strongly defends moderate drinking and, on this page, shows clearly how reducing drink-drive limits has much more to do with deterring drinking per se than reducing road casualties.
- DUI Gulag
- Hard-hitting American site that asks "what happens when our DUI laws reach the point where hundreds of thousands of American citizens are being criminalized each year for "drunk driving" even though they were not impaired at the time of their arrests?"
- Drink Wheel
- American site that allows you to calculate your breath/blood alcohol level based on various factors. Interesting to try, but I feel that the "pints of beer" option tends to underestimate the resulting BAC, and I strongly recommend that this should NOT be used as a guide to whether you may drive under British legislation
- R U Pissed?
- This site is more serious than it sounds and allows you to calculate your BAC with combinations of drinks of different strengths. However, as with the site above, the results should NOT be used as a guide to whether it is safe or legal for you to drive
- Curmudgeon on Drink-Driving
- Comments on the drink-driving issue made over the years by outspoken columnist "Curmudgeon". See The Pub Curmudgeon for further information
- Reasonable Drivers Unanimous - DWI Page
- American site that questions why so much political effort is invested in attempting to lower legal limits when all evidence points out that the vast majority of drink-related accidents are caused by drivers with a BAC of 150 mg or above.
- Drink-Driver Education
- Site produced by an organisation specialising in drink-drive rehabilitation training, which contains useful information about what happens to those convicted, in particular "high-risk offenders"
- Telford Training Consultants
- Another organisation providing drink-drive rehabilitation training, which offers courses in the Midlands and North-West
- Campaign Against Drinking and Driving
- This link is provided in the interests of balance - a fairly restrained and non-hysterical site, but their support for a lower limit is made very clear
Legal Sites
- Byrne Frodsham & Co.
- Firm of solicitors based in the North-West who claim special expertise in drink-driving law and a record of success in difficult cases
- Cunninghams Solictors
- Another North-West based firm offering a nationwide service for drink-driving and other motoring offences
- Drivingdefences.com
- Describe themselves as: "We specialise in drink driving, speeding and other motoring offences and work throughout the UK. We also offer a free initial consultation."
- Geoffrey Miller
- "The motorist's lawyer", offering a nationwide defence service for drink-driving and other motoring offences
- X-Alc
- Specialist drink-driving defence site from Geoffrey Miller Solicitors, containing a lot of useful background information
- Mary Monson Solicitors
- Describe themselves as: "Specialists in breathalyser and speeding offences, and ban reduction". Manchester-based but provide a service throughout England and Wales
Michael Lyon Solicitors
- "We are dedicated to defending the motorist in all types of road traffic cases throughout Scotland. At Michael Lyon Solicitors we believe we can provide the highest standard of legal representation and an unrivalled degree of specialism in the field of road traffic law." Note that this is the only legal site listed in Scotland, where a distinct system of law applies from England and Wales.
- Pannone LLP
- Another North-West based firm providing a nationwide service
- Stephensons Solicitors
- "We are a large firm of Solicitors based in the North West of England. We have a particular expertise in defending motorists accused of committing motoring offences in England and Wales. Much of our work is in relation to representing people prosecuted for alcohol related driving offences."
Inclusion of a legal firm in this listing does not imply any recommendation or endorsement of their services
Press Articles
- A pint and a half sir? You're nicked!
- by Richard Littlejohn, taken from the Daily Mail
- Don't Drink and Drive, and Don't Preach
- by Austin Williams, Director of the Transport Research Group, taken from the Daily Telegraph
- Bar, Car, Black Sheep
- by Rob Lyons, taken from Spiked Online
- Young, Gifted and Dead
- by James Foxall, taken from the Daily Telegraph. This article looks at the disturbing resurgence of drink-driving amongst the under-30s.
- The Great Drink-Driving Scandal
- Peter Saunders wonders why Australians are so reluctant to object to oppressive drink-drive enforcement