Topic: I have no respect for drivers under the influence.

[heffay]

Before we start... I must say that... I do often become "under the influence".  Have I, honestly ever driven in said condition?... Well, probably yes.. But, does that change my stance?






There was once, in my early driving history, even after the countless stories I heard from my "Cop dad"... I rode home, somewhat new to motorcycles, with "a bit of a buzz".  Not more than 1/2 mile from home, my "somewhat drunk ass", decided to whack the throttle around the corner into my neighborhood.
It was wet, I went down, I broke my pinky toe, and I was a retarded fool.

There was this other time, my dad tells the story better... about the time one of his two big sisters was killed by a drunk driver (before he was ever a gleam in an eye)... back in the 40's.     We read "The Littlest Angel" every Christmas Eve for her.

There is also my recent history with addiction problems... although i know well enough to not drive while under the influence.

And still, There are the recent problems with my immediate and extended family... ongoing alcohol addiction problems, including driving. 

I say... drink everything you can find a handle on!  just don't get in the car or on the bike!

[tramp]

amen brother, amen

[nickjtc]

Thanks for sharing that Heff. Unfortunately too many drivers and riders have the "It'll never happen to me" attitude.

[Caaveman82]

The worst part is, 9 out of 10 times the drunk walks away unharmed but the family in the mini van are all half dead or in critical condition.

I blame the people around the drunks just as much as the drunks themself. If you know your buddy is too effed up to drive you TAKE his keys, any way necessary. I knocked my best friend out for his keys. He thanked me the next day.

[Demon67]

Here is an interesting experiment that I tried when I was much younger there, was an road with a long straight leading up to a mild S bend and another long straight away from it, followed by a gentle curve to the right then down a hill, I loved that S when I first rode it, it was an 70 mph corner 71 one way and 69 the other any how like I say I loved it so  practice, practice ( it wasn't too traveled at the time ) so my speeds went up and I got to the point where I scared my self and I backed off a little bit at the end of it I was up to about 80 one way and about 82 the other (the smiths speedo on the Triumph Bonny was not that accurate, it took me awhile to start using the tach and gearing to figure top speed ) it was a corner if I thought I was getting a little rusty I'd go back to again and again.All of this is a lead up to say that I knew the corner well and could tell you if I was driving it well without looking at the speedo any how I drove it after a couple of beers and felt I'd cut time off the corner, so next weekend back tried after one beer, not sure so back to the pub 1 more, yes definitely  faster, so how about 3, not sure, thought about it all week, one of the guys in the barracks had a stop watch so my buddy borrowed it and away we went to try out the theory that a beer will smooth out rough spots we get to the corner, buddy hops off we arrange signals to figure things out, try it twice to set median, good day averaging 83 through fast side of corner off to the pub a beer back to S try it again, 80 try again and again 80 is best I came do, back to pub another beer back to S bend 75 consistently no matter what I do, push it to where I scare the #$%* out my self no better than 75 so back to the station where the "Wets" is now open many beers, think about it then and over the next week, final conclusion, no matter how it feels, any thing that impairs mental clarity costs time and skill, never drove at high speed on a bike again after drinking or any thing else, and yes I know, not a proper test not enough fail safes built in, But again But.
Bill the demon.

[gerhed]

One of the reasons I stopped drinking 15 years ago.
I loved the beer and I loved the bikes !

[Johnie]

The worst part is, 9 out of 10 times the drunk walks away unharmed but the family in the mini van are all half dead or in critical condition.

I blame the people around the drunks just as much as the drunks themself. If you know your buddy is too effed up to drive you TAKE his keys, any way necessary. I knocked my best friend out for his keys. He thanked me the next day.

You hit it on the head...my family was the sober people in that van.  5 years ago at 10PM on a Friday night a drunk driver slammed us from behind on the expressway.  They figure he was traveling 100 MPH and I was going 65MPH, in the same direction thankfully.  He ended up in the ditch and we rolled that van 5 times and ended up in the median upside down.  Minor injuries to my son and I.  My wife got the worst end of the deal when the roof caved in down to her head rest.  We all survived because of our seat belts. 
I worked EMS on the ambulance for 22 years and saw some awful things.  Just never expected to be involved in one myself. 
My opinion of drinkers who drive changed drastically after that night.

[Caaveman82]

My favorite teacher in high school was driving along in her mini van with her two kids, which were both in my grade, they were twins, and her husband, it was a Saturday night they were coming home frome bowling. Some guy ran a stop sign doing about 90 and t-boned them. Killed one of her daughters and broke damn near every bone on the left side of her body. Three ribs, femur, both bones in the arm, and massive spine damage. Her husband and other daughter both sufferred a concussion. The drunk driver walked away with a cut on his forehead. We had an assembly where the entire school signed multipule cards for her.

Just a damn waste is all it is.

[heffay]

i'm a pretty hardcore drinker... i wish i wasn't... but i'm glad i have the sense to not drive.   

just a little bump to this thread in light of this morning's discussions

[smpls70]

<<<<-------rides a bicycle to the bar!!!!

[Duke McDukiedook]

You can still get a DUI if you operate a bicycle under the influence.
I'd be careful about that if I were you.

[Borkunit]

Wear a helmet, even on a "just" a bicycle.  Guy I know smashed his head pretty bad last summer riding drunk and spend a good bit of time in the hospital.  No fun for anyone.  Bicycles can #$%* you up just as bad as any motorized form of transport.

[72 yellow]

Alcohol has caused many problems in and for my family.  I lost a cousin to a drunk driver, killed on his motorcycle.  My wife and her parents were nearly killed by a drunk driver while on vacation when she was a teenager.  A friend was killed on his BSA while drunk and playing chicken with another guy who was driving a car also drunk.  My mom's younger brother and sister battled it all their lives.  I got loaded twice in my life and got so sick I figured drinking was not for me. 

[Inigo Montoya]

When growing up, my parents always drank. Beer was water for them. I spent many nights out in the car while they went in to have "one". This even happened in the winter. I remember going places and them picking up a 6pack for the road.
I never drank very often but a few times I probably triple the legal limit and drove. I have a pretty good tolerance in that even plowed, I could see straight, stand one 1 leg and never blacked out. I will certainly say I was impaired though. It was short lived. By the time I was 23 I stopped. I am divinely lucky I never hurt anyone and at least figured it out early on unlike some who do it in their 50s.

I now have maybe 1 drink when I go out and thats it. I never drink when riding. I am lucky that I am not disposed to drinking. Some people are and it is a constant fight their whole life.

[tramp]

it's a shame that alcohol has done so much damage
i've been stupid but never involved anyone else thankfully
now i don't drive drunk