tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8570734860219292199.post4331579461210078707..comments2024-03-19T10:54:26.547+00:00Comments on Real cycling: Sober as a judge? Not in PolandRob Ainsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545429147297468874noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8570734860219292199.post-39850973190960243302009-04-17T17:33:00.000+01:002009-04-17T17:33:00.000+01:00@Gareth... Thanks for that. I was (as I'm sure you...@Gareth... Thanks for that. I was (as I'm sure you recognised) being a bit tongue in cheek, of course. <br /><br />(There's some rum business about walking a bike when drunk being potentially punished worse than riding a bike when drunk which I've never quite understood.) <br /><br />Obviously operating any machinery when you're drunk is a pretty bad idea, with a rough ascendancy of consequence from nail scissors to bike to chainsaw to car to western economy.<br /><br />I don't know of case law, but I guess that 2500 quid fine for drunken cycling has rarely been levied. In fact, for any fine to be levied, I'm sure it would have to obviously deserve it - causing a bad accident rather than simply cycling in a 1950s-sitcom-style wobbly line.<br /><br />Cheers! (Finished cycling for the day)Rob Ainsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15545429147297468874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8570734860219292199.post-52739014425847771212009-04-17T16:20:00.000+01:002009-04-17T16:20:00.000+01:00It's not possible. Getting on a bike and pedalling...<I> It's not possible. Getting on a bike and pedalling it off in a straightish line requires a complex series of motor skills that's simply not going to happen if you're pissed. </I>I think this must differ from one cyclist to another, because my experience is that as long as I’m not too drunk to walk, I’m not too drunk to cycle. In particular, I can easily cycle in a straight line when I’m too drunk to do so with proper care and attention. So I think it’s reasonable for UK law to say that if I cycle on a public street when drunk, then I’m guilty of an offence (under section 30(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988).<br /><br />Your point about the likely relative harm is a reasonable one, and that’s why the penalties in the UK are so much lower for drunken cyclists (a fine of up to £2,500) than for drunken drivers (a fine of up to £5,000 and a prison sentence of up to 6 months).<br /><br /><I>And if you are, the only person you harm is yourself.</I>That's the most likely outcome, sure, but it's possible for cyclists to cause more serious accidents, for example by colliding with pedestrians or other cyclists, or by swerving in front of a motor vehicle that then swerves to avoid you and hits someone.Gareth Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405124248006286547noreply@blogger.com