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 ratty 63
A.k.a.: Rossco
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 posted on July 18th, 2006 at 08:18 AM |
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Drink Drivers - why? (not VW)
Hi all,
Just need to vent....
I had yet another scary experience on Sunday morning (about 2am) on my way home from work - yet again it was caused by a Drunk driver.
I finished work at about 1am at Runaway Bay (on the northern end of the Gold Coast) I left for my usual end-of-shift 1.5 hour drive to the other end
of the Coast to drop off the empty containers and paperwork to head-office. My route takes me along the Pacific Motorway/Highway from Helensvale
almost all the way to the NSW Border, then I turn around and go home to Helensvale again. When I finished my shift it was raining steadily, as it had
been for most of the evening.
I dodged the 'drifters' on the round-a-bout out the front of work (don't get me started about this group of people!) and set off carefully due to
the wet roads. The trip to HO was uneventful and I even remember noticing how few vehicles were on the highway compared to normal.
On my return trip I took a shortcut through the hills and re-entered the highway at Reedy Creek (roughly the same distance up the coast as Burleigh
Heads - but inland a little) - it was raining quiet hard now. I pulled onto the highway at about 90km/h behind a VL Commodore. The water spray
comming from the Commodore was making visibility very poor, so I backed off to about 80km/h and let it get further ahead.
I do this trip twice a day 5-6 times a week so I know the road quite well. I knew that there were a couple of deep ruts in the slow lane just up
further (near the Caltex servo) which cause the water to pool when it is raining so I considered moving into the fast lane to avoid them. I glanced
over my shoulder as I approached the ruts in the road to check that no-one was beside me and when I turned back I realised that I could now see both
the back and drivers side of the Commodore - it's a straight road, so I knew that this wasn't going to be good.
I braked and began pulling toward the left hand side of the road as the Commodore continued to slowly spin around 180 degrees, crossing the fast lane
of the highway and slamming into the trees and bushes in the center. At no stage did I see brake lights so it would appear that the driver made no
attempt to stop the car - not that it would have had much effect.
I pulled up level with the now stationary Commodore (but on the other side of the Highway) and jumped out - I yelled out to the driver to see it
anyone was hurt, but I didn't get a response. He was pre-occupied trying to open the door and get out. The impact with the trees had crushed the
passenger side C pillar, back window and boot of the Commodore quite seriously and the contents of the boot (some expensive looking musical equipment)
was not spread all over the side of the highway and into the bushes.
After a truck had passed I ran across the highway to check for injuries. The driver managed to get the door open as I crossed and he hurried around
to the passenger side of the vehicle. I peered into the wreck and noticed that there was only one other person in the car, a female passenger
sitting/laying in the front passenger seat. I heard the driver ask the passenger if she was OK and she confirmed that she was fine - the driver the
turned away from the car and threw-up before falling over backwards into the long grass.
Another car had stopped by this stage and the driver went over to the driver to check on his health whilst I ran back to my car to get my phone and
call the Police and Ambos. As I completed my call, the driver of the other car that had stopped came over to me and told me that the driver had a cut
in the back of his head and both he and the passenger "had a skin full". He then left as he was going to be late for work.
Whilst I was waiting for the Police and Ambos to arrive the occupants of the car spent a short time having a conversation before the passenger began
running around yelling "where is he, where did he go?" - When I enquired as to who she was looking for she informed me that there was a 'fella' in
the car that she couldn't find anymore. I pointed to the driver of the vehicle (who was standing in the bushes on the passenger side of his car) and
suggested "you mean that bloke?".
"No, the fella that was in the back seat - where did he go? Did you see where he went?". I looked at the driver and he quickly corrected her "no,
he was driving - I'm wasted so I wasn't driving".... Hmmmm.
The passenger then began running around in the bushes yelling "where is he, where did he go?", whilst the driver began picking up the contents of
the boot from the side of the highway - at one stage asking if I could give them a lift.
The Ambo's arrived first and the passenger continued her carry-on - looking for the imaginary backseat driver. Of course the Ambo's were a little
concerned initially that someone may have been thrown from the wreck or perhaps wandered off, but when I informed them that there was definatly only
two people in the car they smiled and commented 'we thought so'.
The police arrived soon after and also came over to check with me about the missing back seat driver. After asking me a few questions about what I
had seen they went back and breath tested both the occupants of the Commodore - both well over the limit. A few stern words were said to the
passenger and the search for the back seat driver was called off.
Whilst I waited for the Police to finish dealing with the occupants of the Commodore I took the time to look at the damage done to the car - the
passenger was very lucky that the tree that stopped the car hit the C pillar and not the B pillar or the passenger door as I feel that she could have
been seriously injured or worse if this had been the case.
I have seen many accidents happen on the highway, late at night - many of them only minor, but I have been unfortunate enough to see a couple of fatal
accidents and a couple of accidents which resulted in serious injuries. Many of these accidents have been caused by people who have had too much to
drink trying to drive - Why, with all the information that is fed to us by the media do people still believe that they are OK to drive - it is the
Aussie "it will never happen to us" belief, is it peer pressure (surely not), is it stupidity, or is it something else?
I hope that the Police throw the book at these two clowns in the Commodore - I hate to think what would have happened if I had not slowed, but instead
had tried to pass them... I may not be here now to be able to write this... Scary:o
Finally, a plea to all those who, for whatever reason, think that they can/should be allowed to drive after having a few drinks - please stop and
think about everyone that will be effected if something goes wrong - I am aware that accidents happen to people that have not had anything to drink,
but all the evidence shows that there is a massive increase in the chance you will have an accident if you have been drinking.
Please drive safely,
R 
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Midlife crisis
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 08:25 AM |
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Good point if you drink then don't drive, there are plenty off other ways of getting around.
I glad that you did not get cought up in thier mess Ross.
Marc
If you can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anyone else! Because life is to short not to LAUGH
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winerot
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 09:02 AM |
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totally agree ross, it reminds me of a few months back we went to the movies & apon
leaving two blokes came up to us blind drunk, i thought whats going on here till one asked us to drive them home in there 4wd so i drove & jann & kids
followed me it was a bit out of the way but we were glad to help.
they tried to give us $20 for petrol & good deed but we refused the offer & commended them on not trying to drive themselves in there
condition:thumb.
wally
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pete wood
A.k.a.: figure itout
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 09:52 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by winerot
totally agree ross, it reminds me of a few months back we went to the movies & apon
leaving two blokes came up to us blind drunk, i thought whats going on here till one asked us to drive them home in there 4wd so i drove & jann & kids
followed me it was a bit out of the way but we were glad to help.
they tried to give us $20 for petrol & good deed but we refused the offer & commended them on not trying to drive themselves in there
condition:thumb.
wally
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smart guys to ask. and good on you or helping. I wonder if they do that to people often? 
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bajachris88
A.k.a.: Chris Leete
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 10:42 AM |
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i really do wonder why people drink and drive. i think its just a matter of carelessness, i mean, but all means they are drunk and aren't 100% in the
right mind to make smart decisions, but before they chose to booze themselves up, surely they could have acted 'smart' and be determined how they
were to go home safely without being a nob head on the road.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta! |
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oval TOFU
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 01:01 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by winerot
totally agree ross, it reminds me of a few months back we went to the movies & apon
leaving two blokes came up to us blind drunk, i thought whats going on here till one asked us to drive them home in there 4wd so i drove & jann & kids
followed me it was a bit out of the way but we were glad to help.
they tried to give us $20 for petrol & good deed but we refused the offer & commended them on not trying to drive themselves in there
condition:thumb.
wally
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Good on them for aksing for help, but i'd be scared it might be a scam to get someone into their car and then mug them... Not all people are bad I
suppose...
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
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squizy
A.k.a.: Paul
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 01:22 PM |
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Hopefully they'll buy a kombi in place of their wrecked Commodore, and pass out in that where they've parked it until sober in the morning.
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Ich fahre ein Kdf ein Tag
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 01:31 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by squizy
Hopefully they'll buy a kombi in place of their wrecked Commodore, and pass out in that where they've parked it until sober in the morning.
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Better still, keep them off the road!! Sounds like they have had a stack before, being well versed in creating a driver!
[ Edited on July 18th, 2006 by Ich fahre ein Kdf ein Tag ]
Volkswagen ist der strassekoning - Vergnügen fahren finden!
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jonnyb
Seriously Crusin Dubber
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| posted on July 18th, 2006 at 06:32 PM |
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what rubs me is that people seem to get given back their licence the next day after being caught and then they can go on driving till going to court
-then driving home afterwards-used to be licence off them straight away,court in the morning done.Their choice to go drinking and then go and use a
vehicle as a weapon to hurt or kill themselves or someone else.Mostly seems an I do not have to be responsable for my own actions my mates will accept
this cause they did not stop me so its their fault syndrome.Wait till they loose some one to a drunk driver who just says ;oh sorry mate!
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ratty 63
A.k.a.: Rossco
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| posted on July 19th, 2006 at 02:40 PM |
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What gets me is that I just can't understand why you would try to drive after having a couple of drinks.
What causes people to think "I know I'm pissed, and I know its against the law and very dangerous to drive in this condition, but I'm going to do
it anyway"?
Is it the challenge of making it to wherever your going without getting caught/without having an accident - more "I'm not like the others, alcohol
doesn't effect me in the same way, so I'm right to drive...", or is it more that the booze effects their ability to make reasonable decisions ...
or perhaps even effect their ability to see that they are drunk? I just can't understand why you would do it.
You might have guessed by now that I'm not a drinker - one glass of wine with dinner every now and again is my limit... and I wouldn't even have
that if I'm driving.
I drove past the accident site on my way to and from work yesterday and can clearly see the damage to the trees that the Commodore caused - broke one
small gum tree off fairly close to the ground (trunk was probably around the thickness of my leg) - just keep thinking how lucky the passenger was
that the car had not crashed into the bushes another 1 to 2 meters further back ... it could have turned out much worse for her.
I think that this has stirred me up more than normal this time as I lost a close friend, workmate and father to 4 kids to a drunk driver on Mothers
Day 3 years ago. This has brought back a number of painful memories - memories that no-one would have if people were sensible and responsible when
they drink.
Drive carefully,
R
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mscabrio
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| posted on July 19th, 2006 at 06:44 PM |
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I think that people caught for drink driving should have to spend time working with the paramedics or in the ED of a trauma hospital to see exactly
what the end result of this foolish behaviour is. Maybe seeing a few brains scraped off the road will make them think twice
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bajachris88
A.k.a.: Chris Leete
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| posted on July 19th, 2006 at 06:47 PM |
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IF u were politically high MsCabrio, u would make us proud...
That is a good idea.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears.
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta! |
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ratty 63
A.k.a.: Rossco
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| posted on July 22nd, 2006 at 01:42 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by mscabrio
I think that people caught for drink driving should have to spend time working with the paramedics or in the ED of a trauma hospital to see exactly
what the end result of this foolish behaviour is. Maybe seeing a few brains scraped off the road will make them think twice
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I totally agree.
In a past life ... er ... I mean in a past job, I had a number of friends who were tow truck drivers. I used to spend some Friday and Saturday nights
with them, just cruising around the Coast. Of course this meant that if there was an accident that I was one of the first on the scene. This exposed
me to some horiffic sights - things that I won't go into here - but I can assure you that I has made sure that I drive carefully, don't take any
unnecessary risks and value my drivers licence as a privelige rather than a right.
I can think of a number of things that could be done to reduce the road toll and remove some of the idiots from the roads - but none of them would win
votes (most likely have the opposite effect) so it's unlikely that we will ever see them happen.
Some people just don't understand how quickly and easily a life can end as the result of an accident - why take risks .... just stupid.
Drive carefully,
R
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