or would a copper be a better solution?

why must everything be solved by (inappropriate) use of technology?? Oh yeah thats right, its cheaper (well initially), sounds good, and shows that they are hip young and cool (why else would they know about bluetooth and mobiles?), and above all proves that they are doing something.

sorry about all the brackets

Is anyone else tickled by the image of someone crashing because they decided to check their bluetooth message while driving past one of these =p

Or about as pointful as health warnings on cigarette packets, or "Please drive carefully" signs at the entrance to a village. Those sensible enough to heed the messages will drink reasonably, not smoke or drive carefully without having to be told, while the others will carry on regardless.

This does rely on people having bluetooth turned on, which if it is, after being told the first time on a night out will be promptly switched off. Hardly going to get through to the target audience this way.

Generally, people don't. why bother ... unless your pissed and wanna send pr0n... oh....

Aside: Is marginally better than email spamming ... possibly... wait. no. Vision Express and Cineworld spam bluetooth crap (videos and pictures) when you're in range 'round here. Is f'cking annoying.

"proportion of those drinking themselves to death in Edinburgh have their Bluetooth phones set to discoverable -"

...and possibly already driving, will open their mobile to read that new message, thus endangering both themselves, other drivers and humble passerbys...

Also there is a law against spamming my mobile without my prior consent and abusing communication means (unwanted mail or something or another closely connected, for some reasons, with canned beef).

Tags for this post : Hell / Good Intentions / Meeting.

The article makes it clear that the police hope to curb drunken driving, not drinking. Good thing, too -- the former is still [barely] within the realm of the possible, whereas the latter...

how many people have BT switched on 24/7?

Here's a novel idea. Instead of wasting money on shit like this, get some more frikkin' coppers* on the streets.

I know that I can be a bit thick headed, so can someone explain to me the difference in (1) connecting with out permission to an open WiFi network and (2) connecting without permission to a discoverable bluetooth device?

On the face, it legally seems the same.

If bluetooth spaming is legal, I hope the pub owners decide to do a similar thing and broadcast their drink specials. Maybe they can get new business.

I do think that if a business started ad spamming via bluetooth, there would be a hell of an outcry.

If I was walking to/from work past one of these broadcasters and received the message, I would freak out. Bluetooth messaging is usually used to send message anonymously. I would read this as a threat; as in "I'm going to send you home in a bodybag".

I know it's a good cause and all, but I suspect the number of people offended by this message will outweigh the number educated by it.

so... to receive said messages your phone must be discoverable. Said messages will be sent via a secure government server (oxymoron anyone?)

I give it 2 weeks before someone starts using open bluetooth connections to gather information from open bluetooth connections.

Presumably to be closely followed by 'community service' messages from every religion in the area explaining how you are condemned to eternal torture unless you worship (and give all your money to) their particular god.

And more messages telling you that the *only* way to avoid AIDS and pregnancy is abstinence before marriage.

After all, it's for your own good. So you should be very grateful to them for telling you.

that if you do crash your car while trying to read the message the dibble sent to your phone, on the way out of the hospital you will be arrested for using your phone while driving...

I also wonder if a possible defense would be entrapment !

Personally I choose the Police or the Paramedic. Why you ask? Well who better to get you home safely without being pulled over then a cop? Or who better if you start to suffer alcohol poisoning to save you so you get home safely then a Paramedic? If I take the bus I risk not getting off at the right stop and having to walk possibly being mugged on the way home and a cab, well hell I hardly understand some cabbies as it is when I'm sober just think about how it would be drunk.

Point made

What's wrong with the good old alcotest in front of the pub?

You know, actual policeman looking out for drunks and asking them how they get home, then offering to do a test right here to find out if they are over the limit before anything bad can happen. They can just ignore car-sized groups where one is obviously sober and looks like the DD.

They sometimes do it in Germany in front of discotheques and it's usually well received. Most people don't want to be driven by a drunk and a lot of people just overestimate what they can have and still stay under the limit. Few people/groups actually find drunk driving cool while they are sober.

Another successful move was mobile driving simulators. One driving school ever offered real tours while drunk to teach people they cannot drive as good as when sober. Technically, the instructor is the driver, so the student may be intoxicated and still suffer no penalty.

Mines the one with the car keys. I don't drink anymore, since I found better things to do with my brain.

It assumes that

1) People have BT on 24/7

2) People actually accept a random BT device to connect to their phone (unlikely)

Plus in my experience no one without an IT degree can get BT to work in the first place :-D

Perhaps if they spent the money on extra police? just a thought...

Any self respecting cool 24 year old has an iPhone

and we all know about iphones a bluetooth...

So can someone tell me, is there any way to message back: "You. You've pulled!"?