switchlogic:
Such an awful situation. I’m wondering if the driver over the limit was way over our just a little after having a couple of Friday afternoon/evening drinks with friends since this was very early in the morning. Neither scenario is acceptable by any means but that latter could be more understandable.
Understandable? So what you are saying is if you KNOW you are going to be driving a truck in less than 12 hours time, it’s OK to have a few drinks
Surely even you know I didn’t say anything of the kind. Did you stop reading right before I wrote-
Neither scenario is acceptable by any means
What I am saying is that ’ evening drinks with friends ’ on a Friday night is a disgrace if you are in a wagon a few hours later at 03.00 Sat and is in NO WAY more understandable than any other option.
IronEddie:
If the driver involved was over the drink limit because he’s an alcoholic then whilst he deserves to be punished he also deserves some pity even sympathy.
Alcoholism is an addiction it’s even now considered a disease. The alcoholic needs medical treatment to get better.
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If he’s guilty of killing several people because he was under the influence. I’d rather tie him to a post and use him as bayonet practice. My sympathy is with the true victims of alcoholics.
Don’t get me wrong it’s a tragedy and I feel most for the victims. The driver(s) responsible should get the book thrown at them.
But proper alcoholism isn’t the same as choosing to get bladdered and then drive. Like any addiction it takes over. You have to have that drink. You don’t think rationally.
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And do alcoholics have to put the keys in the ignition of a 44 tonne truck and drive it?
No of course not. But for one even an alcoholic needs his or her job. They might be a trucker prior to getting an addiction to alcohol. They might also think they won’t be caught or they can drive fine drunk.
I come back to the fact an alcoholic isn’t thinking rationally. Doesn’t think how you or I do. Not to mention the fact the booze itself alters your perception of your abilities.
In all cases it’s horrible. But IF that driver is an alcoholic then I feel sorry for him to. And in addition to punishment I hope he gets the help to recover that he needs.
IronEddie:
If the driver involved was over the drink limit because he’s an alcoholic then whilst he deserves to be punished he also deserves some pity even sympathy.
Alcoholism is an addiction it’s even now considered a disease. The alcoholic needs medical treatment to get better.
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If he’s guilty of killing several people because he was under the influence. I’d rather tie him to a post and use him as bayonet practice. My sympathy is with the true victims of alcoholics.
Don’t get me wrong it’s a tragedy and I feel most for the victims. The driver(s) responsible should get the book thrown at them.
But proper alcoholism isn’t the same as choosing to get bladdered and then drive. Like any addiction it takes over. You have to have that drink. You don’t think rationally.
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And do alcoholics have to put the keys in the ignition of a 44 tonne truck and drive it?
Apologise - that was obtuse… but I do not accept any excuse for his actions. I merely try to put myself in the position of a father… I would not be calm.
I am a dad and my dad is a recovering alcoholic though not a trucker. Maybe I just see this from another perspective.
switchlogic:
Such an awful situation. I’m wondering if the driver over the limit was way over our just a little after having a couple of Friday afternoon/evening drinks with friends since this was very early in the morning. Neither scenario is acceptable by any means but that latter could be more understandable.
Understandable? So what you are saying is if you KNOW you are going to be driving a truck in less than 12 hours time, it’s OK to have a few drinks
Surely even you know I didn’t say anything of the kind. Did you stop reading right before I wrote-
Neither scenario is acceptable by any means
What I am saying is that ’ evening drinks with friends ’ on a Friday night is a disgrace if you are in a wagon a few hours later at 03.00 Sat and is in NO WAY more understandable than any other option.
Totally selfish and disgusting behaviour.
Understanding how something can happen isn’t the same as saying its acceptable, that’s why we have two different words
It just really saddens me that people cannot simply have just one or two pints and call it a day. There is a legal limit and regardless of social controls/rights and the opinons of us all, the limit is the limit-simple.
If a tramper for example has 3 pints at a Harvester with his/her evening then crack on. But if this driver is actually over the legal permissible limit some hours later, then simply don’t drive the bloody thing until you are.
Same goes for a day man or a night man or anyone for that matter. Someone mentioned earlier in the thread about technology not allowing the vehicle to start until you blow clear, I personally think it’s a very good idea.
Radar19:
I stopped drinking when I got done with University. I was very much a social drinker, only when with friends did I actually drink to excess. When I passed my HGV I made the choice of stopping drinking altogether, not that it was a hard decision as I was a lightweight anyway. Any time I would meet mate’s at the pub I’d have to drive so I always had Come.
I went to my mate’s wedding last month and that was the first time I got drunk in over 3 years.
In my opinion, if you’re a truck driver and you’re found to have alcohol with you then you should be punished.
Why?
+1,the driver could have bought the drink to take home for the weekend if near the end of the week
But why do lorry drivers always seem to get arrested before any sort of investigation or enquirey has taken place, if you fail a breath test then ok, your arrested, but it seems like because your a lorry driver you must be guilty until you can prove your innocent.
It maybe deemed necessary to arrest for a prompt and effective investigation, and perhaps to ensure no potential evidence is lost. It doesn’t mean your going down and getting charged. Just procedure, especially when there is a death. It’s only right for the victims families it’s properly investigated and arresting the drivers is one way of making sure nothing is lost at the early stages.
Any details on the circumstances of the crash? Like so many road incidents before you very rarely learn the full details.
The lead truck has clearly braked heavily for some unknown reason and jack-knifed doesn’t appear to be any damage on it, the transit stopped in lane 1 behind it, the fedex truck has been slow to react and ploughed into the back?
norm:
Any details on the circumstances of the crash? Like so many road incidents before you very rarely learn the full details.
The lead truck has clearly braked heavily for some unknown reason and jack-knifed doesn’t appear to be any damage on it, the transit stopped in lane 1 behind it, the fedex truck has been slow to react and ploughed into the back?
The lead wagon may have jack knifed due to the impact from the Fed Ex wagon into the mini bus and trailer.
when involved in a fatal crash, all drivers involved are arrested, its standard practise, and also the charge is causing death by dangerous driving, covers being on the phone, if a positive road side breath test shows then its death by driving over the prescribed limit( words to that effect)
why are people assuming its the truck drivers that have been drinking,
why are people assuming its the truck drivers that have been drinking,
Because it was specifically reported to the media by the police that the trucker was arrested for drink/drive.
Also the minibus driver is dead (in my opinion).
when involved in a fatal crash, all drivers involved are arrested, its standard practise, and also the charge is causing death by dangerous driving, covers being on the phone, if a positive road side breath test shows then its death by driving over the prescribed limit( words to that effect)
why are people assuming its the truck drivers that have been drinking,
Because according to above posts, 3 vehicles involved and 2 of those are lorries. 2 drivers potentially drink driving.
So pure maths means that its at least 1 lorry driver.
If alcohol is a factor in this one, like others have said there may well be new legislation coming.
Sadly, no sooner had I watched the Volvo launch on YouTube some years ago demonstrating the breathalyser immobilizer device. Drivers were discussing ways it could be beaten and came up with viable answers.
■■■■■■■■ drinkers and confirmed alcoholics will find ways around devices, legislation and moral standards to carry on the habit.
There is no forgiving this driver, but I bet more deaths are caused by sober truck drivers than drunk ones in the UK, there is nothing to stop the stupid, well there is, automatic braking systems, but some drivers want to turn them off!
So what you are saying is if you KNOW you are going to be driving a truck in less than 12 hours time, it’s OK to have a few drinks
