Speaking of Van Drivers....

derg

derg

Apparently a "terse" writer
Staff member
Here's an old scenario from years ago:

You're at a hotel that doesn't have an airport shuttle so your company hires a private "limo" service.

About halfway to the airport, you notice that the driver reeks of alcohol, has bloodshot eyes and seems impaired.

Keep in mind, you're almost to the airport, you're alredy late for show time.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Here's an old scenario from years ago:

You're at a hotel that doesn't have an airport shuttle so your company hires a private "limo" service.

About halfway to the airport, you notice that the driver reeks of alcohol, has bloodshot eyes and seems impaired.

Keep in mind, you're almost to the airport, you're alredy late for show time.
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Start Praying! And make sure your seat belt is tight!
 
Depending on how bad they're driving, I'd either continue to the airport or have them pull over. I would call the car service and report the driver regardless; no excuse for that.
 
Pull over, and then drive the limo myself to the airport! kidding here…

I wouldn't be comfortable being driven around by someone that shouldn't be driving. Period.
 
Doug Taylor said:
You're at a hotel that doesn't have an airport shuttle so your company hires a private "limo" service.

About halfway to the airport, you notice that the driver reeks of alcohol, has bloodshot eyes and seems impaired.

Keep in mind, you're almost to the airport, you're already late for show time.
Click to expand...
Happens frequently. Easy, get out. If they won't pull over, call 911.
I frequently tell them to get off the cell phone while I'm riding also.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Here's an old scenario from years ago:

You're at a hotel that doesn't have an airport shuttle so your company hires a private "limo" service.

About halfway to the airport, you notice that the driver reeks of alcohol, has bloodshot eyes and seems impaired.

Keep in mind, you're almost to the airport, you're alredy late for show time.
Click to expand...

Keep riding and maybe you'll crash. Might be lucky enough to live and only break an arm or something.

Then sue the limo company in hopes you might not have to work again.
 
If you make the decision he's impared and fear for your life, I wouldn't confront the driver while the car is rolling. Might set him off or who knows what. Tell him you gotta take a leak really bad and have him stop at a gas station or something. Then, while taking a leak, I'd call the limo dispatch and explain the situation. Then, I'd call crew scheduing and demand that this doesn't count as crew rest and I'll call them back when I get to a hotel.
 
"I frequently tell them to get off the cell phone while I'm riding also"

So THAT'S why those limo drivers are always asking me if I don't mind if they take the call when their cell phone rings. I was wondering about that. I always laugh and said "no problem". I see your point, though. I guess I just figure that if I talk on the phone in a car there's no reason not to let the next guy.
 
DE727UPS said:
So THAT'S why those limo drivers are always asking me....
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Two weeks ago we had a guy talking on the phone in interstate traffic and pouring rain (couldn't see 100' in front of the car). He wasn't even on a wireless headset, he was holding it to his ear. I asked him to "turn it off... my kids would appreciate it."
 
Also consider that, even if you make it safely to the airport, that guy's still going to be behind the wheel (maybe driving another crew back to the hotel).

I'm with the "get out of the car ASAP" group. Once you're safe, I think you have an obligation to get this guy off the road. Start calling people: the cops, the airline, your Old Aunt Tilly, the airline again. Its OK, you told the driver you might be a while on the phone.
 
DE727UPS said:
If you make the decision he's impared and fear for your life, I wouldn't confront the driver while the car is rolling. Might set him off or who knows what. Tell him you gotta take a leak really bad and have him stop at a gas station or something. Then, while taking a leak, I'd call the limo dispatch and explain the situation. Then, I'd call crew scheduing and demand that this doesn't count as crew rest and I'll call them back when I get to a hotel.
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Gotta agree with Don here. Someone under the influence of alcohol is not rational, and there's no telling how he'll react to threats & sudden demands to get out of the car because he appears to be drunk. Best to pull the pee card, or the I'm gonna throw up card. I've found the Throw Up card to work best, because nobody wants to clean up puke out of their car.
 
Question for you guys...what if you let him finish the drive to the airport and THEN call the car service?

I figure if you make him pull over at a gas station or somewhere else, it's going to take just as long and if he's messed up, having him change his course may cause more trouble.

You do have to inform someone about him but I'd try to do it in a way where he's got zero idea something's going to happen to him so the cops can nail his ass to the wall.
 
I would think the cops would see that as aiding and abedding a DUI driver if you didn't have him pull over.
 
Why not have him pull over to the side of the road, and then tell him you know hes drunk, and demand to drive yourself the rest of the way or you'll report him?

...then report him once your at the airport.
 
I would ask them to pull over and I would get out of that car. Everything else is less important. Things can get ugly real fast with drunk drivers.
 
As a good citizen, I'll ask him to stop the car. Call the limo dispatch and then call the cops. There are no excuses for people driving under the influence and they definately should go to jail for that.
I have lost two innocent friends to drunk drivers here in SoCal. Poor things were walking home from the engineering lab and got hit by a bastard that was drunk. Both died at the scene and the driver did not even have a scratch on him.
 
i lost a good friend to drunk driving accident. hit from behind and pushed into oncoming traffic. it was one of the worst things i have ever seen. i was about 4 or 5 cars back and i could not believe what i was seeing. drinking and driving is stupid and i would love to rough someone up if i ever saw them get in a car intoxicated. thats just me though. :)
 
amorris311 said:
i lost a good friend to drunk driving accident. hit from behind and pushed into oncoming traffic. it was one of the worst things i have ever seen. i was about 4 or 5 cars back and i could not believe what i was seeing. drinking and driving is stupid and i would love to rough someone up if i ever saw them get in a car intoxicated. thats just me though. :)
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Me too my friend. If someone is stupid enough that they don't care what's gonna happen if they get in the car then maybe they should spend the night in jail thinking about that.
 
Thats a tough question. I'm sure most people here have been in cars with drunk drivers (about half the friday and saturday nights during my college career). If you're like me though, you weren't sober at the time either. I'm not sure how I'd react to being in a car with a drunk driver when I was sober.

Then again, I did have a van driver in Jamaica that was stoned out of his mind. He was driving 75 mph through the jungle and the sliding door kept coming open. My Dad and I just prayed that we made it back to the hotel.
 
stuckingfk said:
Keep riding and maybe you'll crash. Might be lucky enough to live and only break an arm or something.

Then sue the limo company in hopes you might not have to work again.
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What stupid advice even if your joking. What about people in the other car, or are you hoping for a tree?

I'm not going to say any more except use whatever means are available to get that driver off the road. That is the most critical action. You are probably saving someones life by acting quickly.
 
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