AIBU to think that if the legal alcholol limit is 80 milligrams for driving...

[bbcessex]

if a man or woman caused a fatal accident and was found to have, eg, 79 milligrams in their blood, you wouldn't say "it was just a tragic accident" then?

There has been a few threads about drinking and driving recently (predominantly about driving DC). I never, ever have a drink if I'm going to drive, and I do now monitor what I drink the night before driving too.

I'm really surprised and quite horrified by those of you who think having a drink and then driving is ok.

I know I'd judge the driver to hell and back if they were (otherwise not negligent) but found to have significant alcohol in their blood, even if they are under the limit. Would I be unreasonable?

I would not have a glass of wine at say, 7pm, and drive home at 11:30pm.

Why on earth not? A medium size glass of wine would be out of your system by 9pm and a large by 10pm. If you're a normal healthy human you could drink that large glass at 7pm and blow a straight to green breath test at 11:30pm. You can buy disposable breathalysers for a couple of quid - try it!

togaparties.. that's not the way I see it. . I'm not a lightweight drinker but a medium glass of wine goes right to my head and affects me. Even if the breathalyser blew green I wouldn't be driving at my best.

Is it really still affecting your head four hours later, though? No one should drink a glass of wine and then hop immediately in the car, but you really think a glass drunk at 7 would still be impairing you at 11? Obviously it's definitely best to err on the side of caution, but I do think it's a bit hyperbolic to say that it would be irresponsible to have a glass at 7 and then drive at 11. I did exactly that last night and feel no guilt whatsoever.