#responsible driving

Asgore does NOT run over Dess (aka. Asgore drives responsibly aka. Bergentruck — Ralsei approved family friendly version)

This morning I am facing three hours of an on-line speed awareness course. Don’t get me wrong, I probably was going at excessive speed on the M25, something you can rarely claim to do on that wrongly located, ill-designed traffic jam of a road, so I will do the course and listen patiently to the liturgy of obviousness and I will try to do better in future.

But, and I know this is no excuse, I would just like to mention two things. The first thing is that I have never encountered a car since my old Triumph Herald from the sixties that was engineered to run in any gear at or below the UK speed limits. You would think that a government that was at all serious about getting us to drive more slowly would ask the manufacturers to address the fact that none of their products sits comfortably at 20mph, 30mph, 40mph, 60mph or 70mph. My own car, a 21 year old Volvo, claims to have a top speed of 160mph and really doesn’t like being in 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear once it has reached 15mph. It is constantly trying to get away. Which means that I am having to divert a lot of my driving attention from the road that I should be watching to bring the needle of the speedometer down to the legal level.

I personally think that is as dangerous as allowing the engine to run effectively on an open road, but no doubt today I will learn the error of my ways.

But that speedo is another part of the problem. In my car, because of its age, the thing is analogue. That I could live with. But the driving position means that the actual display is covered by the steering wheel from 50mph to 100mph. Short of ducking down every few seconds, this leaves me having to estimate the speed it is registering once I get above 45. Again, not very conducive to appropriate levels of road awareness. I have worked out that if the bottom of the needle is pretty much vertical then my speed is around 75 to 85, but that is an awkward marking for error on roads where the speed limit (wrongly, and lazily, still designated, and signed “unrestricted” though there are no unrestricted roads in the UK) is 70.

Around built-up areas, another issue comes into play. Exhaust. When you have evolved engines so efficient that 900 cc is as sporty as 2000 cc were 10 years ago, trying to drive at 20 or 30 is not just a huge effort of will, yours against a frisky car that is constantly trying to get away from you, it is also very dirty motoring. I would have thought that was the very last thing any sane government would be wanting to promote just now. Particularly around towns.

Where I live, in the little sleepy traffic jam of Hertford, one of the few remaining pleasures is to sit outside Caffe Nero and watch the drug dealers’ Ferraris and Lamborghinis scrape their undercarriage as they try to negotiate the speed humps. But it comes at a price. Noise pollution and air pollution. The air reeks of it. Has anyone thought this through?

I realise that all that I have said so far will make little sense to a mindless Motorhead such as Clarkson, whose measure for a car is how fast it can accelerate to 70, how much squeal you can get out of the tyres when drifting sideways round a bend and how much fake noise they have coaxed out of its exhaust system but I just think that the manufacturers should be encouraged to do better: and that is the government’s job.

But that leads me on to the second of my points, which is this. If indeed I was speeding (and I only have the word of a machine built and maintained by an Australian company whose CEO has spent time in a US prison for bribery and corruption to say I was), I was allegedly doing 81mph in the unusually clear outside lane of the M25. Now, that was wrong, I put my hand up to it. But the reason I was out there in the outside lane was because the middle lane seemed to be taken up by an outing of the Lane Hoggers and Brake Dabbers Club. This club seems to have a growing membership, despite the efforts of the new Highway Code to encourage people not to do it.

I am sure my experience is not unique. You are trying to maintain a nice steady speed and at first the car ahead of you seems to be doing the same. But then, for no discernible reason, the car’s brake lights flash on. Your instinct is to do the same but there seems no justification. After the car ahead has done this maybe ten times in the space of a quarter of a mile, you decide to increase the distance between you, to give yourself leeway, just in case he ever means it. This is always a risky manoeuvre as it invites a car to the left or the right of you to “fill in the gap”, halving your braking distance at a stroke, but you realise that the car ahead has you driving on your nerves so you open up the gap. Whereupon the car ahead slows down, again for no obvious reason and closes the gap again. Then he begins dabbing his brakes again.

After a while, you are overwhelmed by the urge to “get me out of here”. You check your mirrors. The outside lane is clear. You signal and pull out to overtake the Brake Dabber. As you do you catch sight in your mirror of some headlight blazing BMW hurtling up the outside lane towards you at a speed you can only estimate as close to 100 mph. Is Clarkson late for tea, do you suppose? But what overtakes you first is the urgent desire not to be in his way, so you push down the throttle to get past the Brake Dabber and back in the middle lane before Mr BMW (almost certainly a company car) starts sitting angrily on your tail. It is then that the speed camera clocks you. Gotcha.

Now I have no sympathy for Mr BMW and his ilk and in the quiet of my home I deeply deprecate my willingness to succumb to their aggressive pressure. The limit, I know, is 70 and wiser men than me have determined that this arbitrary figure is the safe one. I should not care about being hounded by a man suffering from an excess of testosterone. But time has taught me a dire lesson. These people are dangerous, keep out of their way.

But that takes me back into the clutches of the Lane Hoggers and Brake Dabbers. And they too are a menace to safe driving. Yes, they keep you on your toes. You cannot relax behind one. But their actions distract you rather than keeping you alert. You need to be aware of all the road conditions around you. Instead, you end up dividing your attention between your speedometer and their brake lights, watching for the next red flash and wondering whether they mean it this time. It is exhausting and nerve-wracking.

Can anything be done about this? Well, to be fair, the authors of the revised Highway Code do now address the lane-hogging part (paragraph 264). But who reads the Highway Code after they have passed their test? And before you have passed your test you may not drive on a motorway. There seems to me to be a gap here that could do to be plugged. Perhaps the time has come for all drivers who wish to use motorways to take a supplementary test specifically dealing with driving behaviour there. And, maybe, a test of this kind could touch on how sensitive brake pedals are when it comes to switching on brake lights.

But let us not forget the underlying reason why the Lane Hoggers stick resolutely to the middle lane. I suspect it has to do with the fact that, if they consign themselves to the inside lane their ability to maintain something like a constant speed will be impaired, by lorries, slow drivers, cars joining at junctions, cars swinging across at the last minute to take exits (I vouch that all of these are real and frequent). So they sit an poodle along in the middle lane, listening to ABBA or Taylor Swift, drifting into a comfortable euphoria only punctuated by occasional speed adjustments and semi-conscious, almost reflexive, tappings of feet on the brake pedal.

So maybe we need more than just a “motorway-ready” supplement to the driving test. Maybe the time has come, with so many vehicles on the road and mostly engineered well-beyond the competence of those driving them, for regular “top-up” tests, to remind us of the need to drive responsibly.

Surely, HM Treasury, ever watchful for “nice little earners” could be persuaded that such a policy was in its interests, if nobody else’s.

For me the bottom line begins with an unpopular thought: we need, now more than ever, to leave behind the acquired but erroneous thought that driving is some kind of inalienable human right and to recognise that it is, and can only ever be, a privilege granted on condition of good and respectful behaviour. Cars are potentially lethal, just as much as guns. You would not give a gun to an untrained and undisciplined man and let him wave it around in a supermarket. Not unless you were an American. Why do we allow ourselves to assume that passing a fairly lax test 20, 30 or 40 years before qualifies any of us to be still gunning around in souped-up killing machines?

Introduction:

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a severe offense that poses significant risks to public safety. This article delves into DUI's causes, consequences, and legal implications, offering valuable insights for those seeking information about this topic

---

1. Understanding DUI: Causes and Risk Factors

DUI is commonly associated with alcohol, but it also involves driving while impaired by drugs, prescription medications, or even certain over-the-counter substances. Explore the common causes of DUI incidents and highlight risk factors such as:

- Alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. Using the BAC calculator can provide you with a rough estimate of your BAC level. 

- Substance abuse and impaired driving 

- Lack of awareness about the effects of certain medications

- Peer pressure and social factors leading to impaired driving

Keywords: DUI causes, impaired driving factors, alcohol-related DUI, drug-impaired driving, BAC Calculator 

2. Consequences of DUI Offenses

Driving under the influence (DUI) with a high BAC can result in severe penalties. Highlight the severe consequences individuals can face when charged with a DUI offense, including:

- Legal penalties: fines, license suspension, and possible jail time

- Increased insurance premiums

- Impact on employment and career prospects

- Emotional and psychological distress

- Civil lawsuits in cases of accidents causing injury or death

Keywords: DUI consequences, DUI penalties, DUI impact on employment, DUI legal consequences

3. The Importance of Sobriety Tests and Breathalyzers

Explain the significance of sobriety and breathalyzer tests in determining a driver's impairment level. Discuss the various types of sobriety tests employed by law enforcement, such as field sobriety tests, and their role in establishing probable cause for DUI arrests.

Keywords: Sobriety tests, breathalyzer tests, field sobriety tests, DUI arrests, impaired driving tests

4. Seeking Legal Representation for DUI Cases

Emphasize the importance of seeking legal counsel when facing DUI charges. Discuss how an experienced DUI attorney can guide navigating the legal process, building a strong defense, and potentially reducing or dismissing charges.

Keywords: DUI legal representation, DUI attorney, defense against DUI charges, DUI legal process, BAC Calculator

5. Preventing DUI Incidents

Provide practical tips and strategies for preventing DUI incidents, including:

- Designating a sober driver or using rideshare services

- Avoiding driving after consuming alcohol or drugs

- Understanding medication labels and consulting healthcare professionals

- Promoting awareness campaigns and education about the dangers of DUI

Keywords: Preventing DUI, DUI prevention tips, sober driving, rideshare services, drug awareness for drivers, BAC Calculator

Conclusion: Taking Responsibility to Ensure Safe Roads

Driving Under the Influence jeopardizes the safety of all road users. By understanding DUI's causes, consequences, and legal implications, individuals can make informed choices and contribute to safer roads for everyone. It's imperative to prioritize responsible driving behavior and use available resources to prevent DUI incidents.