Friday, January 04, 2008

Sobering information about Drunk driving...

A friend of mine told me the following some rather sobering information about punishment for drunk driving convictions in other countries than in the Netherlands, where we have a zero-tolerance policy against drinking and driving.

He told me that
-In Australia, the names of drunk drivers are printed in newspapers under the caption, "He's drunk and in jail."
-In Malaysia the driver is jailed and, if married, the spouse is jailed too.
-In the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden there's an automatic jail term of one year.
-In Turkey, drunk drivers are driven twenty miles out of town and forced to walk back home.
-In Bulgaria, a second drunk-driving conviction results in capital punishment.
-In El Salvador, your first offense is your last -- execution by firing squad.

So, if you live in the centre of Istanbul, and they drive you out of the city, then another 30 km, wow, that's a hell of a distance. But if prefer the Turkish option over the El Salvadorian one...
But are these stories true?

4 comments:

the Husband said...

er no. The UK is not an automatic jail sentence, maybe the second or third but not the first. The Turkey one is a myth, its a three month suspension and a fine or at least it was a couple of years ago. Some of the Eastern European countries have the most stringent punishments cos they have a huge problem, with the wodka....hic...

Anonymous said...

Hans, you are now a dumbass..>))
Do you really believe this?
Man, you are changed (or became really older since 1999..))

Chris Blackman said...

Sorry, Hans, the Australian "punishment" is a myth, too. What you can be sure of is an immediate suspension of your licence if stopped over .05, and a fine which varies dependent on the level of alcohol detected in your breath or blood. The newspapers tend only to publish cases which have gone to court, and where the driver has been significantly over .05. Learners, and newly-qualified drivers who have less than three years driving experience are not allowed any alcohol in their breath whatever.

Unknown said...

Thanks Gentlemen.

In fact I love the Turkish 'solution': but first drink a bottle of strong raki..))
Who will make that walk..))
Kindest