Foo - Drunk drivers need more than a slap on the wrist

Sheeesh (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_en_tv/people_gary_collins). This guy (I don't care if he was a celeb) should not have been behind the wheel of a car. I'm glad he got caught, but four days in jail just don't cut it. I don't understand why alcohol detection interlock systems aren't required on each and every motor vehicle. Period. Oh... wait! It might cost the manufacturers an additional what, $5.45/vehicle. Yeah- of course (Hey that's what Lee Iacocca said about rear shoulder-harness seat belts, and got Reagan to support it- true story.)

</cynicism>

i'm right there with ya MTBLover

Yes. Saturday some teen (on a bike I think) was killed by a drunk driver. <ohh! so that's why the cops blocked off the area when I was on that road:o> Anyways if this person I know is telling the truth I know who the driver is.:eek:

...End of story she went to jail and he bf paid the price and now she is out. Seesh.

Sheeesh (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_en_tv/people_gary_collins). This guy (I don't care if he was a celeb) should not have been behind the wheel of a car. I'm glad he got caught, but four days in jail just don't cut it. </cynicism>

I'm pretty much on board with you but I don't understand why this particular case has brought out the reaction from you. Dude was driving under the influence, but he got hit by another vehicle and was not charged of any wrongdoing in the accident. His driving may not have been impaired, or at least may not have been impaired enough to constitute a danger to himself or others. He got hit by somebody else.

I'm curious as to how Gary Collins got off with paying only $500 for a fine that normally starts at about $1600.

I'm pretty much on board with you but I don't understand why this particular case has brought out the reaction from you. Dude was driving under the influence, but he got hit by another vehicle and was not charged of any wrongdoing in the accident. His driving may not have been impaired, or at least may not have been impaired enough to constitute a danger to himself or others. He got hit by somebody else.

Actually, with a BAC at 0.08, he was impaired. Whether or not he hit the other vehicle (and he didn't as you point out) is irrelevant- he was operating a vehicle under the influence, and that's really all that matters in this case. If he did it once, he'll do it again, and maybe next time someone (or more than one) will be in his way. Alas, it happens every day.

Alcohol detection interlock systems cost about $1800 and then the service is about $80 a month.

Yes so many times it happens far to often in fact. A man (http://kenkifer.com) who inspired me to take my first tour dies only a few miles to his home because some idiot just had to much to drink and figured he would drive on home. How many times it has happened it is a sad story for sure.

Ride On (http://bike-journeys.blogspot.com)...Safely is Better, but be careful of the fools who drink and decide to drive.

Alcohol detection interlock systems cost about $1800 and then the service is about $80 a month.

Didn't realise they were that expensive... But the devices would probably cost a bunch less than that to manufacture. Plus, I imagine there's a relatively small market for these right now... if they were installed in every single car, they would become much cheaper.

(Not saying whether these devices should or should not be installed as standard equipment... just that the economic argument against them might not be so strong).

Alcohol detection interlock systems cost about $1800 and then the service is about $80 a month.

True, alas. But that's through individual vendors who can't be selling anywhere near the scale that would be realized were these to be adopted by the industry as a whole- you know, that economy of scale thing.

Considering the substantial medical and social costs associated with alcohol-related crashes, and that about 40% of all those who died in fatal crashes were in crashes that involved alcohol (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Trends/TrendsAlcohol.aspx) (and thus could possibly have been prevented), I'd think that development and implementation of a cost-effective interlock system would be something of a priority. Well, one can hope, anyway.

Sheeesh (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_en_tv/people_gary_collins). This guy (I don't care if he was a celeb) should not have been behind the wheel of a car. I'm glad he got caught, but four days in jail just don't cut it. I don't understand why alcohol detection interlock systems aren't required on each and every motor vehicle. Period. Oh... wait! It might cost the manufacturers an additional what, $5.45/vehicle. Yeah- of course (Hey that's what Lee Iacocca said about rear shoulder-harness seat belts, and got Reagan to support it- true story.)

</cynicism>

And restaurants should be required to check patrons' cholestorol before serving them. We'd all be much safer that way.

And restaurants should be required to check patrons' cholestorol before serving them. We'd all be much safer that way.

That's a pretty specious argument, but even so, when was the last time anyone's cholesterol killed someone else?

Did anyone read the article? Gary Collins was hit by another driver. He did not cause the accident.

Did anyone read the article? Gary Collins was hit by another driver. He did not cause the accident.

Yes I did read the article! He didn't cause the accident, but he was driving under the influence. It doesn't matter whether or not he caused the accident- he was in no condition to operate a motor vehicle. And if he did this once, he probably has done it before, and will do it again. There is ample evidence that drunk drivers are recidivists. The next time, he could cause an accident.

Not to start an argument- that definitely was not my intention in posting this- but I'm amazed at the reasoning that Collins' not causing the accident somehow mitigates his responsibility here. Does this mean that it's OK to drink and drive, as long as you don't cause an accident? I can't believe anyone would seriously suggest that!