Drugged drivers...

[Full Noise]

Geez there’s some BS in this thread. So many parrots going on about things they know nothing about along with the usual stereotypical crap that comes out.
The same old tired lines like:
Truck drivers take drugs.
Trucks damage the roads.
Everything should go on rail.
Some truck driver was angry so he must have been on drugs.

A while back I rang that parrot, Derryn Hinch on 3AW to defend the percentage of truck drivers caught at a blitz at the Broadford weighbridge. He had some senior copper on saying that five, yes, that’s right FIVE truck drivers were caught with illegal drugs in their systems at a recent blitz at the weighbridge.

Then they started crapping on about the fact that they tested 53 trucks to get this number. In my calculations, that’s a strike rate of 2.65%. That’s hardly a figure that would get anyone exited, however, what they failed to mention was the procedure they follow to detect these people.

It’s not like a booze bus where they just wheel in the first 50 cars and whammo, there’s your five drivers.

They stopped approximately 900 heavy vehicles during the blitz and selectively targeted the 53 heavy vehicles to undergo the drug screen. It’s out of that number that they came up with the 5 drivers. If the police really wanted a high strike rate for drugged drivers, they could position themselves around a few selected night clubs or rave parties. They’d get a lot more people that way and the people that they would catch would, in my opinion, be a far greater risk to the general community than a truck driver who's taken a pill to fight the effects of fatigue.

There must be some reason why the police don’t target high profile nightclubs for drug use? I just can’t figure out what it is.

As Homer Simpson said, “people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forty percent of all people know that”.

And the same goes for the people who believe the crap that the likes of the NSW RTA, Vicroads, police and state governments want us to believe about the amount of people who have drugs in their systems and drive.

The problem isn’t anywhere near as bad as they make it out to be.

By the way, I don’t take illegal drugs and haven’t taken anything illegal to do my job. I’ve only ever taken Sudafed or Codral and if they don’t help, I find a place to stop. I’ve only ever been drug tested twice on the side of the road and have no problem with it, in fact I welcome it. At least that way, when I get tested, it’s another negative that goes on the percentages.

Unlike many others, I do not judge people who have something in their system when they are driving. I’d much rather that the bloke coming towards me in the middle of the night have something that keeps him alert than have him drift into my lane half asleep and taking me out.

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Unlike many others, I do not judge people who have something in their system when they are driving. I’d much rather that the bloke coming towards me in the middle of the night have something that keeps him alert than have him drift into my lane half asleep and taking me out.

Well this is the thing, driving with certain drugs in your system is undeniably better than driving whilist asleep. Obviously alert and sober is undeniably better again.

Truck drivers using drugs to drive is a symptom of a much larger problem that isn't going to be solved my fining truck drivers, or participating in any of these anti-trucking campaigns.

And another thing, some drugs do actually increase alertness and awareness, thereby increasing ones ability to drive. Dont think for a second I'm advocating their use. Drugs like speed and meth/ice are filthy and incredibly addictive drugs that cause all kinds of problems, eventually leading to psychosis after prolonged use. Impeding your ability to drive (as long as your not an addicted long time user psychotic madman) is generally not one of those problems.

Again, just to reiterate my position - drugs + driving = bad

[SEZ213]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

By the way, I don’t take illegal drugs and haven’t taken anything illegal to do my job. I’ve only ever taken Sudafed or Codral and if they don’t help, I find a place to stop. I’ve only ever been drug tested twice on the side of the road and have no problem with it, in fact I welcome it. At least that way, when I get tested, it’s another negative that goes on the percentages.

Unlike many others, I do not judge people who have something in their system when they are driving. I’d much rather that the bloke coming towards me in the middle of the night have something that keeps him alert than have him drift into my lane half asleep and taking me out.

There is one thing that prevents all this - and no one seems to have mentioned it yet - if you are tired STOP driving, there really is no excuse for taking drugs. I don't give a rats what the big man in the office says about how long it takes you to get there. I would rather you get to your destination alive, than not make it at all. I CAN and WILL wait for the goods to arrive, I don't need anything that badly that drivers need to take drugs to stay alert.

They do actually do blitzes in Brisbane city, every major road out of the city and Valley is blocked with a booze bus and a mobile drug unit, unfortunately, this testing doesn't take place nearly half as often as it should.

I can't condone the use of over the counter medications like sudafed or codral either, mostly because I know that it puts me straight to sleep.

I know you have a job to do, you're required to get to your destination - but isn't it in everyone's best interest that you get there in one piece?

[buickman]

Originally Posted by flappist

For hundreds of thousands of years human beings have evolved. We as a species became stronger and smarter as the weak and stupid tended to be killed and therefore did not reproduce as much.

Then, in the middle of the 20th century, a terrible chemical weapon was unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL

Now humans could control how many children they have without restricting "activities".

But there was a problem.....

Intelligent women remembered to take their pills and have their planned family of 2.5 intelligent children and a dog.

Stupid women forget to take their pills and have 7.8 stupid children, 12 dogs, 4 cats and a parrot.

Due the the exponential increase in the ratio of stupid vs intelligent people and the democaratic systems in place in most of the western world in three generations into this pandemic we are faced with an increase of stupid people in places of power put there by other stupid people.

The signs of stupidity are everywhere not only in the political, legal or media arenas but in just day to day living. (Croc riding anyone?)

We are gradually devolving and will continue to do so until either we wipe ourselves out, get overtaken by another species (indigenous or extraterrestrial) or we split into two groups with one being subserviant to the other.

The forth option, we wake up to ourselves and start evolving again, would require the acceptance that we are not all equal and can never be made that way by lowering standards and tightening restrictions to allow inferior people to do things they are not really capable of.

There is very little chance of that happening.......

They tried the feeble minded laws before the pill was introduced as the link below mentions earlier dates.
But after world wars economies appear to thrive better and people pitch in to make growth and prosperity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_v._Bell

[Seduce XR6]

It makes no difference if the drugs are sudafed, codrel, nodose, cocaine, weed or even those energy drinks. (they are all if taken in large amounts bad for your health & judgement).
As you are either up way too high or you drop way too low.
Hard drugs are bad in any dose & over the counter drugs in high doses.
These are all facts like it or not.
Yes anybody can come up with stats leaning one way or the other but drugs are bad fullstop & if you cannot drive a vehicle car or otherwise unless full of some sort of drugs then you should not be driving (simple).
What you should be doing is working out how you can live your life sober & drugfree!
Yes even having 3 or 4 beers impairs your judgement & you should not drive!
Get to bed early, get some sleep & stay drugfree!
Oh I am not just talking about truck drivers in this statement either just incase some truck driver thinks he & his mates are being picked on & he is too thick to see otherwise in what I have written.
Any way you look at it drugs are bad news & lead to bad outcomes on & off the road!

[Seduce XR6]

Originally Posted by Sezzy

There is one thing that prevents all this - and no one seems to have mentioned it yet - if you are tired STOP driving, there really is no excuse for taking drugs. I don't give a rats what the big man in the office says about how long it takes you to get there. I would rather you get to your destination alive, than not make it at all. I CAN and WILL wait for the goods to arrive, I don't need anything that badly that drivers need to take drugs to stay alert.

They do actually do blitzes in Brisbane city, every major road out of the city and Valley is blocked with a booze bus and a mobile drug unit, unfortunately, this testing doesn't take place nearly half as often as it should.

I can't condone the use of over the counter medications like sudafed or codral either, mostly because I know that it puts me straight to sleep.

I know you have a job to do, you're required to get to your destination - but isn't it in everyone's best interest that you get there in one piece?

Well said

[302 XC]

Should be 0% alcohol and zero tolerance on the drugs
End of story

1 day u can have 3-4 beers and doesnt effect you (much)
Next day 2 beers can effect worse
Drink 6 scotchs over 1 hour Vs 6 scotchs sculled
Different effect
NOBODY knows what the effect can be


The airy fairy laws need to be tightened
A local got done 3 times over 0.15 within 3 years (work licence kept him driving)
This bloke carried on like a loonie, because he got put away for a while

3 TIMES the LEGAL limit,Caught 3 Times in 3 years
Some people dont learn

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Should be 0% alcohol and zero tolerance on the drugs
End of story

1 day u can have 3-4 beers and doesnt effect you (much)
Next day 2 beers can effect worse
Drink 6 scotchs over 1 hour Vs 6 scotchs sculled
Different effect
NOBODY knows what the effect can be


The airy fairy laws need to be tightened
A local got done 3 times over 0.15 within 3 years (work licence kept him driving)
This bloke carried on like a loonie, because he got put away for a while

3 TIMES the LEGAL limit,Caught 3 Times in 3 years
Some people dont learn

What are the odds of getting pulled over in the first place?
If he has been done 3 times in three years the odds are that he is driving pretty much over the limit most of the time.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Geez there's some BS in this thread. So many parrots going on about things they know nothing about along with the usual stereotypical crap that comes out.

This is why I've been watching but not bothering to comment.

Statistic lovers really go for RTA/Police stats that say something like "During a recent crackdown on unroadworthy Trucks we found XX Trucks with defects"...
Now what Joe public doesn't realise is that if just 1 of say some 50+ lights on a B-Double isn't working, or one of our mudguards has a small split, we get written up with a 'minor defect'.

As Benjamin Disraeli said. "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

So if you heard it from Aunt Daisy's brother who's son's mate used to drive a 4 Tonne Hino delivering Bread, or don't know exactly what you're talking about please STFU!

[302 XC]

I remember a few years ago they were handing out good driver awards
You know cops would follow ya,make sure doin the right thing sorta stuff
Anyway story goes (if you beleive it ???)
Cops followed this bloke for Ks,hes doin everything right,indicating properly ,stopin at stop signs ect
So they pull ol mate over,and lord and behold
Absolutely drunk as a stunk

I know theres alot of BS in statistics
But if a boss knows his drivers are under the influence,or tells them when the tests are is the boss liable as an accesory if an accident or death would occur ???
Where i used to work the boss never gave out beer at chrissie time,due to a person being done for DUI,on way home after a party one year
The boss should have known better and not let the worker drive
Would this be the same with drugs

[Jim Goose]

Glad to see how downhill the thread went....
... and how some people really dont give a toss as to what pills people pop.
Such a high moral standard.

[SEZ213]

Originally Posted by 302 XC

I remember a few years ago they were handing out good driver awards
You know cops would follow ya,make sure doin the right thing sorta stuff
Anyway story goes (if you beleive it ???)
Cops followed this bloke for Ks,hes doin everything right,indicating properly ,stopin at stop signs ect
So they pull ol mate over,and lord and behold
Absolutely drunk as a stunk

I know theres alot of BS in statistics
But if a boss knows his drivers are under the influence,or tells them when the tests are is the boss liable as an accesory if an accident or death would occur ???
Where i used to work the boss never gave out beer at chrissie time,due to a person being done for DUI,on way home after a party one year
The boss should have known better and not let the worker drive
Would this be the same with drugs

As far as drugs go, I'm not real sure - I do know, however, as the person who used to make sure the drivers arrived at their destinations, scheduling the vehicles, load weights, what order the truck was loaded in for easy offload, etc, that if I made a driver go outside the fatigue management guidelines, my rear end was on the line with the driver who decided not to follow the rules and got caught, unless I could prove that I had told them not to, therefore, all calls were recorded. I'm wasn't going to lose my job because someone decided to be a cowboy.

That however, isn't really the point, I would assume (once again, I'm not an expert with regard to drug legislation), that with regard to drugs the same duty of care would not apply, as (hopefully) the company isn't giving their drivers drugs.

Dependent on how nasty the outcome though, could involve the company being liable for it in the end, as they should be ensuring their drivers are not under the influence of any illegal drugs.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Glad to see how downhill the thread went....
... and how some people really dont give a toss as to what pills people pop.
Such a high moral standard.

I guess not everyone has a horse as big as yours!

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Glad to see how downhill the thread went....
... and how some people really dont give a toss as to what pills people pop.
Such a high moral standard.

my old man is what you would call Mr Straight Moral Citizen.. now because a doctor prescribes him something it must be good for him.. poor old dads getting around on the streets moggy'd off his head.. there are heaps of them out there off their heads on prescription drugs to me far more dangerous than a kid whos had a puff or a trucky thats had a sniff..

[Auturbo6]

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Should be 0% alcohol and zero tolerance on the drugs
End of story

1 day u can have 3-4 beers and doesnt effect you (much)
Next day 2 beers can effect worse
Drink 6 scotchs over 1 hour Vs 6 scotchs sculled
Different effect
NOBODY knows what the effect can be


The airy fairy laws need to be tightened
A local got done 3 times over 0.15 within 3 years (work licence kept him driving)
This bloke carried on like a loonie, because he got put away for a while

3 TIMES the LEGAL limit,Caught 3 Times in 3 years
Some people dont learn

It was actually one of my many short term so called mechanics that stated:

It's illegal the drive under the influence of drugs.
But it's legal to drink drive! But only to a point. .o5.

I was blown away by the intellegence of such a simple statement, and totally agree.

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

It was actually one of my many short term so called mechanics that stated:

It's illegal the drive under the influence of drugs.
But it's legal to drink drive! But only to a point. .o5.

I was blown away by the intellegence of such a simple statement, and totally agree.

Have one beer, it's not much in a normal adult who weighs around average weight.
One line of coke or speed, you tell me the consequences...the two drugs, alcohol and meth, aren't ever taken in the same proportion.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

It was actually one of my many short term so called mechanics that stated:

It's illegal the drive under the influence of drugs.
But it's legal to drink drive! But only to a point. .o5.

Unless your on P plates or drive a Truck then it's .00

[ILLaViTaR]

Well stoned (marijuana) drivers are safer than drunk drivers and almost as safe as sober drivers. There was a study overseas ( that showed being stoned doesn't effect your ability to drive. Daily use is another story the passive effects that you eventually get impair your driving, even if you're not stoned.

Really it's all ********, governments try to stereotype everything but really it doesn't work. If there's an accident and the driver has alcohol in his blood it's magically always the alcohol that caused the crash. No further investigation. It's blown out of proportion.

What causes accidents are people, the gap regarding driving skill is a joke. In Berwick middle aged women are lethal, jesus most of them can't even reverse parallel park after going back or forth 11 times, when I can do it in one motion, they can't drive straight, or merge on the freeway. I've only been driving for a couple of years and already one of these dopey air headed morons have written off my ED at what's probably the safest intersection in the area. The difference in driving ability between individuals is astounding, far more than any drug could influence. I hopped into a car with a mate who I later found out was on shrooms (the one drug you wouldn't want to drive on), I couldn't even tell the whole trip he drove amazingly and was aware of his surroundings unlike these morons in their Yaris's that can't even drive in a straight line.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Unless your on P plates or drive a Truck then it's .00

That's another thing.

I get off my P's next week when I turn 21.

Did you know after being on your P's for 3yrs your body magically transforms to be able to withstand a .05 alcoholic limit. I'm drinking that night but I better wait until the clock strikes midnight otherwise my body may have not transformed yet and I might crash and be a reckless scum of the earth p plater.

We'll just assume a 3 year time span of driving magically makes being slightly intoxicated safe. Because that's so much more sensible than considering metabolism, alcohol tolerances and hormonal balance. And to top it off we'll assume everyones identical.

[mongoloid]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Well stoned (marijuana) drivers are safer than drunk drivers and almost as safe as sober drivers. There was a study overseas ( that showed being stoned doesn't effect your ability to drive.

Got link?

[ILLaViTaR]

Police say that driving while on drugs poses the same risk as driving while drunk.

And James says the Dodo isn't extinct and instead built a spaceship and relocated to pluto.

83% taking amphetamines. Cool last time I checked amphetamines didn't affect judgement like alcohol, it boosts adrenaline thus increasing laetness/hazard perception and attention span. Truckies have used it for decades due to their lack of sleep making it too unsafe for them to drive. Speed actually improves your ability to drive.
A lot of alcohol makes you unaware of what you're even doing, if you've had 20 standards you won't even be able to turn the key.

Same risk my ****. Typical blind ignorant police comment.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by mongoloid

Got link?

http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1775.html

I just skimmed it I'm in a rush atm, that's not the one I read but it looks to prove the same point anyway.

"A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) used stoned drivers on simulators, and concluded that the only statistically significant effect associated with marijuana use was slower driving."

[Iggypoppin']

Illavitar, you're not on drugs right now by any chance?

[Auslandau]

Think where done now ....

......... and drugs are bad .... mmmk!