If the penalties were much harsher( and in this case they should be) it might encourage people to voluntary abstain before driving.? Like most here a glass of wine or a pint over the course of an evening is as far as I would go before getting in the car.

 

the law is fine as it is

setting a zero level is an asinine idea

having said all that, I do wonder quite what you have to do to get the maximum sentence for this offence

 

Plead not guilty, show that you have had a poor driving history/repeat offending, show no remorse, lie in court.

This guy, showed remorse, pleaded guilty and had no history of offending and apparently there were some mitigating factors to do with a cheating girlfriend and a dead parent or something.

Anyways, it's very tragic. I can't imagine the loss for the family, nor can I imagine the effect it's going to have on the perpetrator, not that I have much sympathy but nonetheless you need to be a right shit to not have this haunt you for the rest of your days.

It would be nice to see some more campaigning with regard to drink/drug driving as well as antisocial driving which might make the roads a safer place.

 

and that helps to get the maximum sentence halved?

sorry, that doesn't work for me at all

there are almost always going to be 'mitigating factors' and some people pleading not guilty (as in this case) is just laughable (albeit their right)

this was not a case of a simple error resulting in a catastrophic aftermath

three and half years (the most he will serve) is an absolute joke

 

It's the way the guidelines work there's alot of people saying that it's not enough for killing two kids but I don't know 3 1/2 years in Jail is pretty horrific and the rest of your life to have it going over in your head as well. I would say a life time driving ban would be more appropriate than more jail time though, the prisons haven't got enough room for those people that commit other horrible crimes as well.

It's hard to be objective when there's an act of such blatantly dangerous behaviour that ends up in the death of two children and permanent injury of an adult. Similarly should someone who kills people through irresponsible driving whilst sober not receive the same treatment? There have been an awful lot of dead people on the A9 this year due to poor driving, I would say that fell in to the same category.

 

A car is a lethal weapon and should be treated as such.

If this guy had walked into the town, plastered on booze, and had killed 2 kids with a gun that he normally uses on the weekend for sport, he'd have a got a damn sight more than 3 years.

 

If I am driving then I only ever have one. It is now such a risk and my life would be impossible if I was to get a ban. So weighing things up it is a no brainer and all for one more baby cham

 

It's quite true that the body retains some alcohol permanently, and thus a zero rating would be impossible to enforce.

Equally, whilst it is true that a moderate amount of alcohol (in line with current laws) does impact driving ability, this cannot be looked at in a vacuum. There are a million and one things that have an effect on driving competence at any given moment, from tiredness, to the kids arguing in the back seat (we're probably safe on this one), to a comedy on the radio or a good discussion/good song, to a good looking woman walking along the street in a short skirt.

The truth is that the ideal of a perfect level of concentration and competence is impossible to achieve; there will always be some reason for a depressed level of skill and aptitude.

Drink/driving statistics in Britain actually measure up very well to other comparable countries. Drink related accidents do indeed include those where the driver was sober but the pedestrian hammered.

The problem with drivers who do drink is rarely the one of someone being somewhere near the limit, it is those who intend to ignore any law put in place by drinking as much as they feel like and then getting behind the wheel.

 

3.5 years for taking two lives under any circumstances deserves much more than this sentence, 35 years would be more appropriate, if he felt really bad about it I'd loan him a few feet of rope and and a chair for use in his 8x6 cell.

 

Totally agree.
For anyone to be more than twice the legal limit he/she must have consumed a fair bit more than just a pint or two over the course of an evening and so should have been aware that he/she was unfit to drive. Much harsher penalties for situations like this one might make some think twice before drinking too much, although I agree that you will always get the ar5eholes who feel normal rules do not apply to them.