Daily Mail - Drink Driving - oldroverboy.

A woman driver was more than twice above the drink-drive limit when she hit a wall, drove erratically for five miles and reversed into a police car, a court heard today.

Her daughter was in the back of her car and was not in a booster seat when her mother hit a wall on the A5 at Capel Curig in Snowdonia.

The mother admitted to drink-driving at a Magistrates Court.

She had a breath-alcohol count of 98 when the legal limit is 35. She also pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child.

A shop owner said the Toyota Auris was littered with empty lager cans and she looked dazed after the collision.

Prosecutor said: 'Members of the public attempted to stop her' as she got back into her company car and drove off. 'Police officers began to follow the vehicle.

'It was driven erratically, crossing over the white lines and weaving in the road.

'Approximately five miles later the vehicle was stopped, police officers partially blocking the vehicle.

'She reversed into an unmarked police vehicle travelling behind her.' was given a twelve-month community order with supervision and a 26-month driving ban which she could reduce by attending a drink-drivers’ course.

She must also pay £145 costs.

Court chairman told her: 'The reading was almost three times the legal limit. You have realised the gravity of the situation with particular reference to your daughter’s safety.

You are making the right progress in terms of alcohol awareness.'

Alcoholism was the catalyst for the offences. It was a problem she had attempted to tackle and following her arrest she referred herself to a project with a residential programme.

'What happened was out of character and not typical of the way she ordinarily conducts herself,'

Mr Lloyd said there was no damage caused. She had travelled at 45mph, within the speed limit, and then placed the car in reverse to straighten it.



Edited to remove names.

£145 costs, no fine just a drink awareness course and a ban that can be reduced? If driver is an alcoholic what is she doing with a driving licence?

Edited by oldroverboy. on 19/07/2013 at 08:17

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Bromptonaut

The court would have had a full view of the circumstances and reports on the defendants position.

Refers to company car so she's likely to lose her job. Not mentioned, but an extended test would be a normal requirement after an offence of this gravity.

Also on a community order which presumably means supervision and treatment for the alcohol problems that she recognises. Alcoholics can move on to recovery phase. Even if not then provided she manages her illness and her driving then should she be subject to an effective lifetime ban?

What good would a fine do if she lacks the means to pay?

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Bromptonaut

The court would have had a full view of the circumstances and reports on the defendants position.

EDIT

Comments elsewhere suggest blood test and other examinations for symptoms of ongoing drinking are required at BAC over 2.5 times limit. These are at driver's expense with a DVLA approved medic.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Collos25

There are a lot more alcoholics driving than you think.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - madf

There are a lot more alcoholics driving than you think.

hic.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - oldroverboy.

Forgot to add my own particular gripe, would a male driver have got off this lightly?

THINK NOT!

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - balleballe

Its because women are 'safer drivers' dont you know.

From my own personal experience I find the whole women as safer drivers mantra complete bull.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Andrew-T

From my own personal experience I find the whole women as safer drivers mantra complete bull.

Just as from my personal experience I find Peugeot makes reliable cars.

Unfortunately insurance companies don't give women preferential rates just out of courtesy; tho it seems that gender equality is now thought to be more important than whether one is likely to have an accident.

Edited by Andrew-T on 20/07/2013 at 00:13

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - balleballe

Ive been behind a woman driver a couple of times when for no apparant reason they come to an emergency halt (Allowing someone on to the motorway/A road from a slip road for example).

If I happen to rear end them, then apparantly I am in the wrong. My insurance will have to pay out and my premium will increase

Yes, we are told to be aware at all times, but when somebody acts so stupidly how can one predict that?

Stats dont tell the whole picture

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Andrew-T

Ive been behind a woman driver a couple of times when for no apparant reason they come to an emergency halt (Allowing someone on to the motorway/A road from a slip road for example).

Stats dont tell the whole picture

I have also been behind drivers doing this, but I didn't have time to identify personal characteristics - he/she may have been black, Jewish, elderly, whatever. Your 'couple of times' says it all. Doesn't say anything about women as a subspecies, and certainly isn't a statistic.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - dieselnut

I've also had a similar situation.

A van pulled out into the outside lane into the path of a woman driver in front of me. The speed difference wasn't that great & should have required her to knock off perhaps 10mph, instead she did an emergency stop.

I had left plenty of room & as no one was in the middle lane just zipped past her. I don't know if it resulted in an accident as it was on one of the long curves on the m6 Birmingham so she was soon out of sight. Just a total panic reaction on her part, incompetent driving IMHO.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - oldroverboy.

And what would have been the penalty for a male driver? Methinks a lot harsher.

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - barney100

Think the judge bottled it?

Daily Mail - Drink Driving - Sofa Spud

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Edited by Sofa Spud on 22/07/2013 at 01:18