Bad Driving

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:50 pm

I assume we all have our hands up.
What drink and driving issue? Do expand.

nosey_parker · Post by **nosey_parker** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:00 pm

I obviously meant people who drink more than it's allowed by law. Those who despite having drank too much sit behind the wheel thinking they are still fit to drive...

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:51 pm

Yes that is obvious. Is drink driving a particular problem in Portugal?

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:09 pm

Having just finished reading this topic i reckon you would want to be out of your mind to get in behind the wheel with anything less then a half bottle of whiskey inside you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:21 pm

Well....I guess I must put my hand up here..GUILTY...and Im one of the guests that dont agree with you ref portugal being safe to drive and France/Italy not etc etc....blah blah......BUT....yes I have on occasion had more than I should and driven home....(I mean maybe two pints plus a bit more ...not OTT...but I know that is probably more than I should drink and remain legal ) ......but to answer your question ..I have many Portuguese friends and I have been with them in their car when they they are way way over the top and have been stopped by the police near Carvoiero..but no problem they are good friends with the local cops so we go through..Oh forgot to tell you one of my friends in the car IS a traffic cop......I would say more than 80% of my friends that come to my house to eat and drink ..drive off WAY over the top....ALL nationalities...and when I have lunch at the local restaurants I note most of the customers knocking back the old Vino ..and then off they go on their merry way..driving of course........I know Im going to get really hit on this one...and be told the Algarve is not safe because of people like me and my friends........but I guess I should tell of my experiences and the facts....

ps.....A friend of mine stopped on the road near Almansil a few weeks ago when he saw a vehicle off the road...it was a Dutch couple...they couldnt even walk let alone talk..they were so drunk and had run off the road...he took them to his house to sleep it off.........very worrying isnt it.....

AFKA1 · Post by **AFKA1** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:22 pm

This topic about bad driving is all well and good but does anyone know of a good British International School around the Algarve area

....................................

And before anyone says it..........yes this is a joke see the topic on International Schools

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:45 pm

What does International School have to do with the heading 'Bad Driving' ....Pls stay on the topic...

nosey_parker · Post by **nosey_parker** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:59 pm

Guest: thanks for your honesty. It says a lot. I don't know anyone who hasn't had more than what's allowed by law and drove off happily.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:15 pm

Guest has been honest but Guest shouldnt be inviting people over if he/she knows that their friends will drive off over the limit - its only a matter of time before they get killed or some innocent

Yes we've all done it in our teens and twenties but if any guest of mine was over the limit now the car keys would be hidden and they would have to sleep it off overnight, walk or get a taxi home and if they didnt like it ....tough!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:10 pm

AFKA1 wrote:This topic about bad driving is all well and good but does anyone know of a good British International School around the Algarve area ....................................

And before anyone says it..........yes this is a joke see the topic on International Schools

...if this is a joke it should be on the jokes forum surely

...only joking....

AFKAI???whats in a name? please see relevant topic.....

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:14 pm

AFKA1 wrote:
This topic about bad driving is all well and good but does anyone know of a good British International School around the Algarve area ....................................

And before anyone says it..........yes this is a joke see the topic on International Schools

...if this is a joke it should be on the jokes forum surely

...only joking....

AFKAI???whats in a name? please see relevant topic.....

digger

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:26 pm

I think its true to say the Teens and twenty somethings that have a bit too much to drink..would ever think of driving......my children and all their friends just dont do it.....but sadly I can't say that for many of my friends my age...50 plus........ I also see so many of them here after a long lunch at the golf club....happily driving off in their car...very hard to do much about it Im afraid...I suppose one could start calling the police or club official every time I see this......very difficult...

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:37 pm

I wonder how much road conditions (both surface and congestion), and car age affect accident stats. Accidents are presumably inversely proportional to congestion ( you can't have an accident is everyone is stationary) and also proportional to it (busy roads, more stuff to hit). I suppose the same applies to surface conditions (bad roads, you go slow, bad roads you are dodging potholes).
Can't find any decent data. From what I have seen, it seems to be hard to find good, reliable and comparative data. I trust governments have better sources...

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:41 pm

Yes guest you should do just that. Suppose one of your friends had an accident and killed someone (or themselves). How would you feel?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:19 am

Ok all you Whiter than whites.....Hands up anybody that has never had anybody to their weekend barbi in the Algarve and never allowed anybody to drink more than two units (or whatever the legal limit is ...Zero ??) and then told them ..sorry Im taking your keys away...your sleeping here...( Im not talking Drunk ..Im talking the usual two or three glasses of wine..or 1 1/2 Pints......I'm interested because I can say that I go to Golf or a little Garden function probably three times per week here in Algarve...(Not Just my Do's) ..and I have never in the last 5 years Ive lived here seen anybody do that...so before all you guys cast the first stone...lets be honest....and I agree with the writer about the main culprits being older people and not the under 25 's........I totally agree to the objectionists...IF they really are whiter than white...but I'm not sure I beleive them.....but I'm open to harsh comment if I'm wrong and maybe I'm mixing with all the wrong people/Golf clubs / restaurants etc.........