Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Possibly a change in social attitudes to drink driving? I know that in my younger days it was illegal, but not regarded as "wrong", to have a few drinks and then drive home from the pub. These days most people would regard anyone convicted of drink driving with disgust.
In the 10-year period from 2004 to 2013 (the latest available data), alcohol-related road accident fatalities more than halved:
2004: 580
2005: 550
2006: 560
2007: 410
2008: 400
2009: 380
2010: 240
2011: 240
2012: 230
2013: 240
The big reduction occurred between 2007 and 2010, which fits in with your dates.
Source: Reported drinking and driving statistics tables, produced by the Department for Transport
If you look at the corresponding data for the US, there appears to have been no appreciable reduction in the same time period. |
That is fantastic on those rates going down.
Crazy question: how long between the arrest and the court date for punishment over there?
Over here, it could be as much as 2 to 3 months. Arrest, bail out, keep driving, finally go to court.
Now if you are at twice the legal limit, some counties won't hesitate to pull your license for the time of your probation.
Other counties, the drunks just pretty much pay the judges salaries. You are working, here is your ankle monitor. I know one guy that finally went to jail for DUI. He was 65 and they reduced 11 DUi's to 3. I didn't ask the time frame.
I will shut up now or I might start ranting.