Anthony Hopkins sobering message today.

Apparently DGD's friends drive like 'old Grannies'
(Thanks!).

The problem with young newly-qualified drivers is that, however well they drive, they lack the experience to deal with incidents like poor weather conditions and the idiocy of other drivers of whatever age.

I know I am odd, but I saw nothing to thrill in this, there was no sense of reality, no feel of speed, no sense of being on a real road. t was just another version of a zap a rodent computetr game.

far more frightening is when people post film of them driving too past on real roads.

Is it any wonder that some young people drive dangerously at high speed when they have been watching videos like this for years. They think they are invincible 😥

www.youtube.com/shorts/a1EwIVNoOnc

M0nica

The problem is Allira is that the scheme is voluntary. It should be compulsory.

Yes.

It does bring down the cost of insurance considerably less than half, so I'm not sure why more don't take up the scheme.

The problem is Allira is that the scheme is voluntary. It should be compulsory.

M0nica

The figures show that speeding is more than twice as dangerous as drink driving.

We also need to remember that most fatal drink driving accidents, like fatal speeding accidents are caused by people driving/drinking at excessive speeds or with excessively high blood alcohol levels. We need some way of identifying which group these people are found in.

One of these groups is newly qualified young drivers, and I do think restrictions on the age/number of passengers they can have in the car, plus limits of engine size in cars they drive would go a long way to helping there.

Newly qualified drivers can have a black box fitted in their cars which monitors their driving and can reduce the amount of insurance they pay. It encourages them to drive responsibly.

The figures show that speeding is more than twice as dangerous as drink driving.

We also need to remember that most fatal drink driving accidents, like fatal speeding accidents are caused by people driving/drinking at excessive speeds or with excessively high blood alcohol levels. We need some way of identifying which group these people are found in.

One of these groups is newly qualified young drivers, and I do think restrictions on the age/number of passengers they can have in the car, plus limits of engine size in cars they drive would go a long way to helping there.

I’ve never understood the attraction of alcohol. It’s just a waste of money. The only way I would use it is in cookery, or liqueur chocolates!
I agree with a previous comment that speeding can be as dangerous as drink driving. It’s a common problem in our area with certain morons who think they own the roads…

Many congratulations to you Fallingstar and rosie1959, that's one heck of an achievement and something to be really proud of. I also thought it was a great video by Anthony Hopkins, no preaching just common sense and practical and delivered in a very humble way.

Jojo1950

Talk to your grandson and quietly keep talking until you get through. Someone’s got to.

Of course discussing concern is important but sadly it really is only the addict who can make the decision to admit they have a problem. I remember masking my drinking problem to loved ones, whose concern only turned me into a secret drinker, hiding bottles around the house. And many can function whilst drunk.
My advice would be to just show that you are always there and that your GS can talk to you anytime.

Talk to your grandson and quietly keep talking until you get through. Someone’s got to.

Kudos to all of you who are managing.

The stench of cannabis can bue smelt outdoors in many places where l live.

It is commonplace to use it and drive a car.

I have an adult GS who binge drinks - it breaks my heart to see him.

I too am in recovery, from 1984
Things I got up to when I was a practising alcoholic now make me shudder and I can only remember half of it…..
There’s no reason I should be alive, but I am and I am thankful..
I am now approaching my 73rd year

I am not sure zero tolerance would solve the problem of drunk driving, nor that banning those convicted of drunk driving from ever regaining their licence would.

Admittedly, I have not checked Swedish or French statistics, and I believe it is illegal to drive in both countries unless you are completely sober.

I do know that in Denmark, we have especially in country districts quite a number of car drivers who have either lost their licences, or never passed a driving test, but they are driving on public roads. Until they are caught, that is. However, this raises the question: how many other unqualified or disqualified drivers are there out there?

I used to work for a hospital booking surgeries. I can tell you that having to phone people who were waiting years for a new hip, knee, cleft palate repair etc to cancel their surgeries because the hospital theatres are full of critical patients from drink/drug driving is heartbreaking. People have no idea how it works and think that these emergencies are swallowed into a regular hospital day but they are not and have huge knock on effects to lists.

Fradders Eric Clapton used to play with a band in Woking on New Years Eve at an AA event. Don't know if he still does. My friend used to help organize it every year - I once asked him if he could sneak me in as I'm quite happy not drinking, but he refused 😄

I am an alcoholic in recovery,coming up on 23 years.I still attend AA meetings to carry the message to newcomers.

Anthony Hopkins was still doing 12 step calls a few years ago,not heard anything recently about him.

Since Covid Zoom meetings are often and plentiful,it has been brilliant to meet Alcoholics in recovery from all over the world.There are many famous people in the rooms of AA.

Fallingstar

I doubt cannabis will replace alcohol due to the ready availability and social acceptability of alcohol.

You would have to be living on another planet if you couldnt buy weed in this country.
The weed that has been around for some years now is very addictive.
The only safe stuff is from someone who grows it for their own consumption.

I saw a report recently that said that driving under the influence of drink and drugs is regarded as acceptable by younger people - I think it's from the Bristol area traffic police that have been doing a crack down on drink/drug driving.

Everyone keeps saying that the younger generations don't drink as much but I have to say I see no sign of it. The pubs near us are always full of youngsters and many of them are often drunk.

Congrats to everyone who has achieved sobriety. As an ex-smoker I know how hard you have to work to kill an addiction.

Yes, that's a long experience of sobriety. A great achievement.

Yes, well done.

All the very best.
And to you too and others who have made that decision.

Sadly, alcohol can destroy lives, marriages, families, not just of the person but others too.

A very moving thread. Warm congratulations to Fallingstar on 45 years of sobriety; and I agree that Sir Anthony Hopkins' book is inspirational reading for its honesty. Alcohol is nobody's friend, and no respecter of persons

Sarnia

M0nica

Sarnia

The reason that drunk driving figures are falling is because driving under the influence of drugs is rising, particularly with the younger generation.
Very few people know the limits or how many units are in their drinks. Making it zero tolerance would remove the guesswork. Also when someone is found guilty for drunk/drug driving I would have their car scrapped and hand them a lifetime ban from the roads. There are far too many cars these days so weeding out those who show no responsibility towards themselves and others makes sense to me.

Speed is the killer not drugs or alcohol. You are 4 times more likely to be killed by a speeding driver than a drunk driver. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-fatal-4-factsheet-2023/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-fatal-4-factsheet-2023--2

Lets give a life ban to every driver that gets a ticket for speeding and destroy their car that will save far more lives.

Life is full of risks, we do all we can to mediate them, but some risks we have to take.

I might add that my sister was killed in a road accident and in a seperate road accident, my daughter was seriously injured and left with a permanent disabality. Neither of them was held responsible for the accident that killed/injured them.

Extreme suggestions like this do nothing to solve a problem. You might as well give all shop lifters whole tarriff life sentences to prison.

I know what it is like to suffer the loss of someone

You cannot say 'ban everyone for ever' unless you ban all drivers involved in fatal collisions.

My sister was killed in a road accident. She was on her bike, cycling down a narrow tree lined, cars parked

Yes, speed kills but despite Government figures there are far too many who have been injured or killed by drivers under the influence of drink or/and drugs. I have a police officer in my family and they despair at the lenient sentences handed down to those drivers. A car is a deadly weapon in the wrong hands and derisory community service orders and suspended sentences are no deterrent. Seize their cars and impose lifelong bans to make our roads safer. Hand down life sentences to those who have been unfit to drive and have killed someone. Sadly, it seems you are too well aware of the carnage that is caused and the devastation felt by those who have lost someone to such a driver. It needs to stop.

Those under the influence of drugs or alcohol are likely to be exceeding the speed limit too.

Lets give a life ban to every driver that gets a ticket for speeding and destroy their car that will save far more lives.
Someone can get a speeding ticket for doing 34mph on a 30mph country road or 23mph in a 20mph area.