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Pappy's latest comments
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29th Dec 2014Pappy commented on:
Is it time to make drink driving zero tolerance?Be careful what you wish for. In fact, what we should be talking about are levels of impairment. At what level of impairment is it no longer acceptable to drive? Please don't say any level, because a whole variety of factors can create impairment, including over the counter medicines, stress, illness and tiredness. So you can't just have a zero level for alcohol because alcohol causes impairment. The breath test is a quick and easy way of testing alcohol content, but it's not a measure of impairment. Tests for drug impairment are becoming more sophisticated, but are also more complicated. Many people forget, however, that the law doesn't differentiate between legal and illegal drugs in relation to driving while impaired. So drive under the influence of any drug or medicine to the extent that your ability is impaired and you are equally guilty. My over-arching point is this. The law in relation to drink driving has to be based on levels of impairment, and the decision in Scotland and many other countries is that significant impairment can be present in levels below 80. Hence the reduction; but unless we are arguing for zero impairment in driving ability then we cannot argue for zero levels of alcohol in isolation.ViewDate:
29th Dec 2014Pappy commented on:
Do you find the greeting "Merry Christmas" offensive?If saying Merry Christmas offends someone, then it is because they want to be offended. In truth, it is no more offensive than saying, "Happy Monday." Bu the same token, it is not offensive to call a white coffee white, a black sheep black, or a pink carnation pink. Which ever civil servant came up with this one had too much time on their hands.