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Post by Humph on Apr 3, 2018 15:41:22 GMT
Just been reading some news and it seems one of those "Anton Deck" blokes has been caught drink driving. Would think he'll be banned for a while.
I never drink any alcohol if I'm going to drive, so that reason doesn't worry me, but of course you can be banned for different reasons. I'm no saint, but I do try to drive in a way that doesn't risk safety or my licence, but you just never know, one day something could happen and suddenly, you're sent off.
For me, that would be a major problem in terms of my work needs, but I'd also be devastated on a personal level. I've had a licence and a car all my adult life and the thought of not being able to drive would be awful for me.
On a scale of "shit happens" to "absolutely tragic" where would you be if you were stood down for a year or something?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 15:47:44 GMT
It would be devastating and entail a massive change in lifestyle.
I was never a great one for drink driving but after the warning of my accident a few years back these days I do not touch a drop.
I speed from time to time, but I don't think I really do much else wrong. I certainly never drive in a way that would get me an instant ban and if I got some points then I would moderate my driving however I needed to to preserve my licence.
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Post by Humph on Apr 3, 2018 16:00:53 GMT
There has been a thing on the TV recently ( narrated by Felicity Kendal, anything with Felicity Kendal in it gets my attention even now...) about 100 year old drivers being assessed on their driving. Some of them have been unsurprisingly bad, but others were safe enough. I'd hate it if I couldn't drive.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 17:04:01 GMT
Mmm, prevented from driving through ill health is a worrying thing.
Largely inevitable though, for most of us. But a worrying thought.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 17:09:51 GMT
Thinking more;
Since I intend to live out my days in a peaceful village somewhere that I can walk to everything I need or want, I am hopeful.
However, long gone are the days when I would drive just for the enjoyment. Not that I don't enjoy driving, but just that I am doing it actually for a proper reason, not just going out for a blast.
So provided I didn't need to, then I guess that I'd be ok with it.
My current circumstances and lifestyle though would be impossible without a driving licence. I don't know what I'd think about a chauffeur. A particular contract I did once came with a driver, mostly because the area was unsafe. I didn't like it. It's not so much fun as you might think.
I use public transport (metro and buses) and taxis quite a lot. But they are not always the solution.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 3, 2018 17:10:27 GMT
It would be an utter pain but short of a disaster now that I no longer drive to or for work. Summer sporting activities would be severely curtailed, but the real deterrent is the thought of having to be driven by MrsB1. She’s fundamentally safe, but would you choose a restaurant simply because it’s yet to claim its first victim?
I will have a glass of wine, but only one and then only if there’s food to buffer it. I won’t drink beer after cricket - and I was glad of this policy the time I was stopped on the way home during Thames Valley’s 2015 summer campaign. Knowing I’d blow a zero took any stressful edge off the encounter.
Otherwise, like the others, I’m not the kind of driver who attracts attention, and that’s how I like it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 17:20:37 GMT
>>I will have a glass of wine, but only one and then only if there’s food to buffer it.
Chile has a zero tolerance law. How that works in the real world I don't know. But breaking the law as a foreigner here is pretty bad news. Even when it's not a serious crime it usually results in expulsion.
Lighting a fire in a National Park, for example. Go to the airport, do not pass Go, do not collect £200.
And don't come back. Of course, you can apply for a visa again, but you won't get it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2018 18:10:14 GMT
If I drink, it's 1 unit (maybe 2) with food and I don't drive for at least a couple of hours after the last drink. Speeding? Yes but usually never over 75mph on the GPS, occasionally closer to 80 but unlikely to get me an instant ban.
If I lost my licence it would be very complicated for my work; I need to get around to inspect the properties I value. I suppose I could employ a driver given I only do about 6,000 miles pa for business. No a disaster, as I live on a main arterial route with buses in to Manchester and a 15 minute walk to the tram station. I can get almost everywhere I need to get to in Manchester (including the airport) by public transport, but timing is an issue for my work.
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Post by Humph on Apr 20, 2021 11:06:40 GMT
My licence was due for renewal. Just got the new one. Only lasts until 2028 because I shall be officially ancient by then.
Anyway, it is disappointingly gammon in appearance.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Apr 20, 2021 12:40:40 GMT
I swapped my licence beginning of 2019 from EU UK to EU DE, it's valid until 2034. That one will last 5 years before I'm vintage.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Apr 20, 2021 12:52:57 GMT
Are you 70 in 2028 then? Wow I thought you were a lot younger. Time to retire :-)
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Post by Humph on Apr 20, 2021 12:57:55 GMT
That thought hasn't escaped me Rob. Not sure why I'm hanging on really, other than that I actually quite enjoy what I do, most of the time.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Apr 20, 2021 13:22:08 GMT
My boss retired in February, about the same age as you Humph. Still reasonably fit, going to become a grandfather in October, his wife still works one day/week. He has lots of ideas what he wants to do but he's stuck at home or within a reasonable walking distance due to Covid.
I still enjoy work but I'm looking forward to the day I don't have to any more whenever that is. My assumption is 60-62 though 68 is the official age.
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Post by Humph on Apr 20, 2021 14:03:07 GMT
Well, y'see, that's the thing, my wife is 6 years younger than me and has a job she loves. She's not ready to retire yet, so any thoughts of heading off into the sunset will have to wait a while. I'm not really the allotment or bowling club type to be honest, so I'm not sure what I'd do all day if I stopped working entirely. Not impossible to contemplate going part time at some point though. Or maybe just going back to doing my own thing on a freelance basis.
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