Driving RM vans after drinking alcohol

[Lounge Lizard]

I'd see your GP if you are that desperate for a pint after work.

My GP drinks more than I do and not just coffee.

[Lounge Lizard]

So "not under the influence of drink" means "not over the legal limit"

Under the influence has nothing to do with the legal limit.

A person is under the influence of alcohol when, as a result of drinking any amount of alcohol, his mental or physical faculties are so impaired as to reduce his ability to think and act with ordinary care." Ill. Pattern Jury Instr.-Criminal 23.29 (4th ed.)

Do you really want to leave that decision to a Royal Mail manager?

Of course, but your "mental or physical faculties" aren't going to be "so impaired as to reduce" your "ability to think and act with ordinary care" after one pint of 3½% abv beer.
Moderation is true temperance.

[fishtank]

Of course, but your "mental or physical faculties" aren't going to be "so impaired as to reduce" your "ability to think and act with ordinary care" after one pint of 3½% abv beer.
Moderation is true temperance.

Why anyone would consider drinking even one pint and driving is beyond me, It's off the scale crazy and to throw in the added risk of driving a Royal Mail vehicle and throwing away your job takes a level of stupidity that should win gold at the dumb-ass Olympics.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Is there an official policy on driving after having alcohol.
Example, finished shift and have 1 pint before taking van home.
Is that a sackable offence even if under drink driving limit.

if your stopped you would have to provide proof of insurance at time of police stop

Royal Mail vans aren't insured.

Actually yes they are, Royal Mail have an insurance bond for the vehicles, it's not the same as an ordinary insurance policy that joe public takes out but they have to lodge a large sum of money to take out this bond but it is insurance and if needed the documents to show the police are available from the intranet at work and should also be on a wall somewhere in your do next to the employers liability insurance

[GT750rider]

There are three that come in our office most days pissed as farts managers can smell but don't bother.

A guy at my old office used to get dropped off at the gate by his wife most mornings. He was usually sweating, I guess from the effects of too much alcohol. Most of us thought he was alcoholic. If we could see it then surely the manager could. His duty ? A rural delivery.

[dvbuk55]

If after a hard days work you become thirsty and need a drink there are many more options than a pint of beer sold in public houses. My take on alcohol and driving is zero tolerance. We are far too lenient on the subject of drink driving.

[gb93]

Overnight retention policy Appendix 2 Section 22.

11. I warrant that at all times I will be fit and able to use the vehicle or equipment. This means ensuring that I am ready for duty in a fit and alert condition and not under the influence of drink or drugs.

Under the influence...not over the legal limit.

I knew there would be something hidden away somewhere.
ah well it was good while it lasted

[gb93]

Is there an official policy on driving after having alcohol.
Example, finished shift and have 1 pint before taking van home.
Is that a sackable offence even if under drink driving limit.

Although by having 1 pint you are more than likely to be under the drink drive limit however the official line taken would be that you are allowed to take van home for business convenience not to transport you for your own social activities.
You should have taken the van to your home first then went for your pint.

No it's not "for your own social activities"
It's "finished shift and have 1 pint before taking van home", the Delivery Office canteen shut so it's a pint in the pub across the road.

that scenario would be classed as not commuting home. Work finished and you then went elsewhere albeit on foot then traveled home that is social use of the vehicle regardless of whether you left it at work or not so regardless of drinking alcohol or not you are driving uninsured and without consent that's two charges which alone could lead to loss of job

Anything official on this opinion about having to drive the van home as soon as shift is finished.
All sorts of legitimate reasons why you could leave van parked for a while then go home.

[dvbuk55]

Anything official on this opinion about having to drive the van home as soon as shift is finished.All sorts of legitimate reasons why you could leave van parked for a while then go home.

Stopping for a pint not being one of them I'll wager.

[gb93]

Anything official on this opinion about having to drive the van home as soon as shift is finished.All sorts of legitimate reasons why you could leave van parked for a while then go home.

Stopping for a pint not being one of them I'll wager.

probably not.

[Lounge Lizard]

There are three that come in our office most days pissed as farts managers can smell but don't bother.

A guy at my old office used to get dropped off at the gate by his wife most mornings. He was usually sweating, I guess from the effects of too much alcohol. Most of us thought he was alcoholic. If we could see it then surely the manager could. His duty ? A rural delivery.

A rural delivery was probably deemed less risky than tackling busy urban streets.

[Lounge Lizard]

Is there an official policy on driving after having alcohol.
Example, finished shift and have 1 pint before taking van home.
Is that a sackable offence even if under drink driving limit.

Although by having 1 pint you are more than likely to be under the drink drive limit however the official line taken would be that you are allowed to take van home for business convenience not to transport you for your own social activities.
You should have taken the van to your home first then went for your pint.

No it's not "for your own social activities"
It's "finished shift and have 1 pint before taking van home", the Delivery Office canteen shut so it's a pint in the pub across the road.

that scenario would be classed as not commuting home. Work finished and you then went elsewhere albeit on foot then traveled home that is social use of the vehicle regardless of whether you left it at work or not so regardless of drinking alcohol or not you are driving uninsured and without consent that's two charges which alone could lead to loss of job

Anything official on this opinion about having to drive the van home as soon as shift is finished.
All sorts of legitimate reasons why you could leave van parked for a while then go home.

Don't deviate from the direct work to home route while driving and there shouldn't be a problem.

[5plusbonusball]

To the OP - CLICK HERE -

http://think.direct.gov.uk/drink-driving.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

To the OP - CLICK HERE -

http://think.direct.gov.uk/drink-driving.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well, if it comes from the government it must be right.
We're told that "in 2011 there were still 230 deaths due to drink driving" when, more likely in 2011 there were still 230 deaths when someone had been drink driving, which is not quite the same thing.
Yes, "In the last 30 years road casualties caused by drink driving have fallen dramatically" and thankfully long gone are the times, nearly forty years ago when I remember, when it wasn't unusual for motorists to boast about how many pints they had drunk before driving home. Then I knew several men who would drive home way over the drink driving limit, now I don't know any.
The government should now be concentrating on the 88% or more of road deaths that have nothing to do with drink driving and I hope that in thirty years time, or less, speeding has become just as socially unacceptable as drink driving now is.

[bustedflush]

A salutary video - don't do it.



I cannot believe this is genuine, but it seems so. I hope the idiot didn't drive the van parked opposite. At least he has his hi-vis on...