[arraxylap]

Depends on how drunk he was. I've drunk alcho quite a few times and been drunk on a few occasions and only once have I been wasted. Some people are different but when I'm drunk I still have almost full control over what I do (except balance) and am very aware of what I'm doing and if this guy was the same than it should be classified as murder. But if he's one of those who get drunk and can't control themselves than its an accident (my dad and uncle can't really control themselves when drunk)

Its very sad that this has happened. The guy should be punished for it and should lose his license for good.

[irrawnWab]

If a .08 is defined as legally drunk, then alcohol should be illegal and not served in restaurants. The lunacy of how few beers is actually needed to throw your ass in jail is astounding. This guy killed somebody, so obviously he deserves to go to jail for a very long time. However, he was probably 3x over the legal limit.

So you'd be fine with putting him away for a long time, yet you think that driving with a beer or two is ok? Wow!

Drinking 1-2 beers can dull your senses enough to kill someone in an accident.

[sensation]

I suspect in the UK he'd get a 2 year suspended sentence and a 6 month driving ban... not that we're soft or anything..

I mean, some guy get's nicked over here, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, fleeing police in a stolen car whilst drunk and high with stolen goods in the car... 6 month ban and £200 fine.

[ulnanVti]

I'm sorry but blowing a .08 is not alcohol abuse. For some women, that could be a single beer.

I didn't say it was. I was responding to your comment on making alcohol illegal.

Fact is, there are people who do abuse alcohol. I see it all the time since I work for a Probation Office.

And I somehow doubt the guy that hit the bikers would have blown a .08. Maybe after a few hours maybe.

[PriernPayorse]

I didn't say it was. I was responding to your comment on making alcohol illegal.

Fact is, there are people who do abuse alcohol. I see it all the time since I work for a Probation Office.

And I somehow doubt the guy that hit the bikers would have blown a .08. Maybe after a few hours maybe.

I agree.

[PriernPayorse]

So you'd be fine with putting him away for a long time, yet you think that driving with a beer or two is ok? Wow!

Drinking 1-2 beers can dull your senses enough to kill someone in an accident.

This guy didn't have a "beer or two," he probably had a dozen. And honestly, unless you've never touched a beer in your entire life, having two beers can dull your senses enough to kill someone? C'mon man

[lymnCymment]

My friend showed me this picture last night...I honestly thought it was a BS Photoshop.

Very tragic.

And I believe he should be put away for a long time. If not life, than at least 20+ years.
I'm sure he didn't intend for this to happen, but no drunk driver does. He made the decision to drive while intoxicated and because of that decision innocent people were killed.

[Rjvpicux]

My friend showed me this picture last night...I honestly thought it was a BS Photoshop.

Very tragic.

And I believe he should be put away for a long time. If not life, than at least 20+ years.
I'm sure he didn't intend for this to happen, but no drunk driver does. He made the decision to drive while intoxicated and because of that decision innocent people were killed.

By that logic. He could have been working all day, got tired, fell asleep at the wheel and killed a few people. It was his choice to drive while being tired so it's his fault.

Alcohol and drugs can impair ones driving but so can using a mobile phone, eating, smoking, changing the channel on the radio, talking to the person next to you etc.

[xanaxonlinexanax]

If you drink, no matter how small an amount, you shouldn't drive.

The driver in question may not have meant to kill and injure those people, but when he got behind the wheel of that car he was displaying gross negligence for not only himself but anyone else who happened to be on the road. I don't think he should be locked up and the key thrown away, but he shouldn't be let in the driver's seat of a car again, and if he has any sort of conscience then I shouldn't imagine he'd want to either.

[lymnCymment]

By that logic. He could have been working all day, got tired, fell asleep at the wheel and killed a few people. It was his choice to drive while being tired so it's his fault.

Alcohol and drugs can impair ones driving but so can using a mobile phone, eating, smoking, changing the channel on the radio, talking to the person next to you etc.

I definately see where you're coming from, but in my mind being exhausted from work and driving drunk are completely different. You can't control (for the most part) being tired after working long hours, but you certainly can control putting alcohol in your body before getting behind the wheel.

Your other examples did get me thinking, though...I would be more keen to let those people off easier (although eating and talking on the phone I'd still be fairly harsh with)...perhaps its just that I've been raised with a constant message of anti-drunk driving (parents, school, TV).

Sionboy brings up a good point as well. If I ever killed a person while driving, I really don't believe I could ever get behind the wheel again.

[Freeptube]

I definately see where you're coming from, but in my mind being exhausted from work and driving drunk are completely different. You can't control (for the most part) being tired after working long hours, but you certainly can control putting alcohol in your body before getting behind the wheel.

You still make a conscious decision to drive in both cases.

It states right in my drivers handbook that you should never drive in any altered mental state. That could be breaking up with your girlfriend and then driving wildly along dead-mans ridge, or just being tired. No one forces you to drive and people MUST be held responsible for decisions they make. Driving is an earned privilege, never a right.

[Rjvpicux]

I definately see where you're coming from, but in my mind being exhausted from work and driving drunk are completely different. You can't control (for the most part) being tired after working long hours, but you certainly can control putting alcohol in your body before getting behind the wheel.

Your other examples did get me thinking, though...I would be more keen to let those people off easier (although eating and talking on the phone I'd still be fairly harsh with)...perhaps its just that I've been raised with a constant message of anti-drunk driving (parents, school, TV).

Sionboy brings up a good point as well. If I ever killed a person while driving, I really don't believe I could ever get behind the wheel again.

I wasn't sticking up for the drunk driver. I was just pointing out your flawed logic.

[MedicineForUs]

By that logic. He could have been working all day, got tired, fell asleep at the wheel and killed a few people. It was his choice to drive while being tired so it's his fault.

As a matter of fact a few years ago, in this country, a driver fell asleep at the wheel and drove on to a railway line and caused a train crash in which people died. He was prosecuted iirc.

[AlistDakisa]

that picture is just crazy.. looks like something you'd only see in video games..
feel sorry for everyone who got hit

[indianstory]

/play devil's advocate

Having two beers will impair my driving abilities by less than adding 50 years to my age. Therefore, no senior citizens should be allowed to drive.

/end devil's advocate

[PriernPayorse]

/play devil's advocate

Having two beers will impair my driving abilities by less than adding 50 years to my age. Therefore, no senior citizens should be allowed to drive.

/end devil's advocate

[arcalmanard]

By that logic. He could have been working all day, got tired, fell asleep at the wheel and killed a few people. It was his choice to drive while being tired so it's his fault.

Of course it's his fault. If you're tired, drunk, or whatever, call a taxi or take the bus. Period.

[alecoplesosse]

Of course it's his fault. If you're tired, drunk, or whatever, call a taxi or take the bus. Period.

Judgement impaired.. Not thinking in a rational state. I don't excuse any for something like this and think that penalties can and should be quite severe, however.. they are not murderers.

[Klorissana]

Terrible thing to happen. [no]

[trorseIrripsy]

Judgement impaired.. Not thinking in a rational state. I don't excuse any for something like this and think that penalties can and should be quite severe, however.. they are not murderers.

Yes, they are! They willingly and knowingly took reckless control of a dangerous object, and used it in a dangerous manner (unless you somehow disagree that a 2000lb car moving at 70mph is not dangerous). Because of these intentional actions, he killed someone.

Yes, these pieces of **** are murders, and needed to be treated as such. And all of you supporters sicken me. Hell, i bet you looked at the OP's picture and cheered! [cursing]