Drink driving in rural areas

[Amber76]

A few of my in laws live in a fairly quiet rural area - four members of same extended family live within a mile or so of each other. They all have kids and they think nothing of driving home (with kids in back of car) from each others houses - both parents may have had 3/4/5 drinks or more.

We stayed for a few nights over Christmas and they thought I was ridiculous for not drinking because i wanted to drive kids back to where we were staying each night. My mil kept saying 'but there are never Guards on this road' - she's right that there never are but thats not the issue! My dh agrees with me but says they'll never change. And i feel uncomfortable there as i keep refusing drinks. They literally roll their eyes at my tea drinking!

His family are mainly very nice - all hard working professionals. And (as far as I know) they wouldn't drink and drive on busier roads...but mainly because of a fear of being caught as opposed to it being dangerous.

Do others find this too? I grew up and live close to city. Dh grew up in this quiet rural area.

There is a bit of a rural drinking culture where we live. The villages are split with some being totally abstemious but a few thinking it's ok as "they know the roads". None with children on boards and very, very little traffic between the houses hereabouts but drink driving nevertheless. Often older people and compounded by no taxi service or public transport.

Drink driving is one thing that makes me see red. It doesn't matter how far you are going or whether there are any guards out. It's irresponsible and immoral. It takes a spilt second to change or end someone's life. I think they are utterly moronic.

There may not be police, but there may be more inebriated drivers, or cyclists or animals. Just not worth the risk...it's perfectly possible to have a great time without drinking so stick to your tea and your principles.

Only a couple of people I know still have that attitude and neither of them have kids. It's completely irresponsible. Even in rural areas, I see plenty of people abstaining because they're driving, or more often having a drink at the start of the night, or a glass of wine with dinner, so long as they know it'll be several hours before they have to drive.

Stick to your tea, OP. And maybe hope the gardai start running checkpoints near your ILs (they do on back roads near my parents).

It is "OK" until something goes wrong, someone killed or injured.

What will those drink drivers say to the family of the injured person?

These days I have a drink or drive, not both and if I am driving, won't touch a drop.

It is a social attitude that needs to be enforced but appreciate the resources are limited to catch those who drink/drive.

Now drug/diving? That is another story

I think you just have to answer 'well I don't want to crash, especially with kids in the car' and stick to your tea. I can't imagine you'll be able to change their attitudes.

As an aside, there was a proposal in Kerry, where I have extended family, a few years back to ease the drink driving limit for rurally isolated people. I think it was controversial at the time but I don't know whether it went through or not.

So many of those back roads have a 100kmh limit unlike some dual carriageways with 60kmh( and Garda speed checks).
Mad!!!