The Bottle And The Throttle (1961)

Reveals the dangers of drinking and then driving. Shatters the myth which says you have to be drunk before your driving ability is materially impaired. Incorporates statistics compiled by the National Safety Council and American Medical Association.

[@hebneh]

And even earlier than this, there weren't even laws against driving drunk at all, regardless of the blood alcohol content.

[@computernerdinside]

My left ear really liked this video.

[@BadWolf762]

He wasn't drunk, he was distracted by his girlfriend.

[@MyGamerforlife]

Better than most PSAs I've seen.

[@LMacNeill]

I can barely *walk* after drinking enough to get me to a .15 BAC, to say nothing of driving a car. Wow... Today, .08 is the limit in the U.S. -- that kid would be convicted for DUI today.

[@tomservo56954]

The ignition key was moved to the steering column as an anti-theft measure--to lock the wheel when the key was removed. Today many cars have the slot back on the dash, in places where people can't hit it.

[@bobbyheffley4955]

Some cars have dispensed with key-operated ignition switches.

[@lilmike2710]

@@bobbyheffley4955 "dispensed with"? 🤔 I thought that was an auto spell typo at first. But it's proper English in that context. Ex... "Car manufacturers have all but dispensed with the column key ignitions." 😁 We learn something new each day if we allow ourselves. 👍

[@davidreeves9791]

Designs and ideas changed more often then it seems. Look how old fashioned and dated Bill's 1948 Mercury looks compared to the 1960 Ford during the passing scene at 8:30. A 12 year old car doesn't stand out that much today. Of course, in 1960, the average car was about 2-3 years old, compared to around 5-6 years today.

[@markdraper3469]

May be... But I remember back then a few folks still driving pre-war cars daily like in the scene with the station wagon... (My grandma still had her '39 Plymouth until shortly before this film)

[@gojoe2833]

Actually that's a 46 Merc. They are similar, but only the 46 Fords and Mercurys had parking lights on top of the grille. 1947s and 48s had parking lights below the headlights. I really like that 60 Starliner!

[@02chevyguy]

There was a Bud Light Super Bowl commercial before this started. How ironic.

[@soylentteal]

A couple months ago, TCM showed this right after “Duel,” which made us snicker. I thought it was quite informative and definitely something my 1980 class could have used.

[@christinemarie6976]

Texting while driving is WAY more dangerous than being a little tipsy.

[@1N73RC3P7OR]

That's the stupidest argument I have heard in my entire life. Just because B is more dangerous than A it does not mean that A is not dangerous.

[@asbestosfibers1325]

Woman do not possess logic.... Example listed above.

[@1N73RC3P7OR]

@Magnus Atheos It was implied. And the fact that you are trying to prove it just confirms that you too realize that she was hinting at it. And what's with the last statement? Not only are you white-knighting but you are also projecting.

[@specialopsdave]

@@1N73RC3P7OR Not implying it's ok to drink and drive but, but implying that texting and driving should be punished similarly.

[@christinemarie6976]

@John Smith Not one of you idiots has come up with a rational response. It's all just been ad hominem attacks. I stand by my original assertion that having your attention focused away from the road while you are rolling along the highway is waaaaay more dangerous than having a little buzz, but looking at the road.

[@galoon]

Absolutely--there was a casual attitude to safety. Even in the '70s as kids, we were always in the back seat without our seat belts on! I think the alcohol limit in the US today is either .04 or .08. '60s cars seem safe because of their size, but their safety features weren't great. Most were equipped with only lap belts, of course, and metal dashboards; and the ignition key on the dash caused lots of leg lacerations in accidents. That's why they put it on the steering column now.

[@bobbyheffley4955]

.04 for pilots and CDL holders

[@feellucky271]

No,it's not.

[@LMacNeill]

Today's US limit is 0.08 Like you, I was a kid in the '70s, and we *never* wore our seatbelts. I didn't start wearing my seatbelt until 1984, when I was 14, because a friend of mine had a horrible wreck and actually walked away uninjured because she had her belt on. I saw the totalled car in person, and swore to myself I'd always wear my seatbelt from then on. Oh, and I think the ignition keys were moved to the steering-column to help prevent theft -- steering-wheel locks became law in 1970.

[@bobbyheffley4955]

General Motors changed over in the 1969 model year.

[@NipkowDisk]

Hard to believe that 0.15% actually was the legal limit many years ago- pretty snockered by that time.

[@Texassince1836]

and since bill hit that woman with a bac of .08 they Lowered the limit. It's all bills fault, thanks Bill

[@ivanleterror9158]

7 + years working with the LAPD impound in the Valley. There for all that. Cleaning up other people's stupidity. This is no joke. Almost forgot about the balloon based breathalyzer.

[@cavemanorigins5348]

When cops used to look like cops and not militarized urban mercenaries.

[@QuasiTraction]

"Steering-wheel locks became law in 1970". Not on Trucks, My 1974 Ford F250 has both the key on the dash and a non locking steering column. Incidentally it has lap belts too...I think 3 point (or shoulder belts) became required in 1975, along with Catalytic converters/EGR system, and I think most switched to some form of Electronic ignition system, verses contact points/condenser.

[@galoon]

Thanks--I didn't realize that was done to deter theft; I think I saw the safety claim for this on another highway video. Now that you mention it, I have seen a few new cars with the ignition back on the dashboard.

[@acdccarnut]

wow .15 was the legal limit

[@miffedmax]

I wear my sunglasses at night so I can so I can keep track of the visions in my eyes.

[@tomservo56954]

Some consider Sid Davis the Ed Wood of instructional films...although I don't think Sid was into cross-dressing.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

"I crave affection, baby, but not when I drive"

[@scombalis]

It only takes a few beers to take the keen edge off your driving abilities.

[@johnsimun6533]

Good thing I only text while driving.

[@zamblammer9015]

Oh I just love Jodi! She is so innocent!

[@b3j8]

I hate it when people object to showing real life accidents, with real life consequences, in high school. You want to save some kid's life, give it to them straight and let them see, and hear, the aftermath of a fatal wreck. That will stick in their memory.

[@johnnyhawkins43]

Yeah buddy they showed us some pretty gory stuff when I was in school in the sixties and seventies!

[@miriambucholtz9315]

@@johnnyhawkins43 We saw something called, "Death on the Highway". That was in 1963. I still can't get some of it out of my head.

[@ssbn6175]

'Signal 90' holy crap.

[@davidwalker7732]

@@ssbn6175 that one was nicknamed Hamburger Highway

[@KPrimeau1]

Is that car, of the drunk, a 1960 Ford Galaxy 500? My grandfather bought one and we inherited it in 1975 after he had passed away. What a car.

[@jeromecabral7464]

Engineers back then didn't know the hidden dangers of what the impact could have on the body during a collision

[@dave_riots]

@GGALLIN1776 We do actually, no need to generalize. But then again, this is KZbin..

[@drpoundsign]

I think the maximum BAC has gone down over the years.

[@locouk]

Bill isn't smart, don't be like bill.

[@yakacm]

there's another version of this film, exactly the same voice over but with re-done visuals from the early 70's were the kid is driving a Mustang, and his bird is as complete mutt, instead of the cutie she is in this one, guess that's another side effect of drinking, the old beer goggles.

[@yakacm]

+diecast jam the other film is from 65 so only 4 years after this one.

[@bobbyheffley4955]

On the A/VGeeks channel, you can find a color version of this film.

[@SpecialAgentJamesAki]

🤣🤣👍

[@peggypeggy4137]

Is that the one with the long blonde hair parted in the middle? It says it was made in '65 but it looks more like the mid 70's, judging by the clothes and the cars. Exactly the same script. I thought I was seeing/hearing things but it is the same.

[@racer67]

Nothing good comes from a bottle except maby my 67 impalas styling!

[@bobbyheffley4955]

In 1961, the cutoff for drunk driving was 0.15% blood alcohol content. Laws caught up with science, resulting in lower limits - 0.10% at first, and now 0.08% in most states (0.05% in Utah).

[@inkey2]

OMG the intro music.....did anyone see the movie "Ed Wood". I wonder if this is where they got the idea for the creepy music in that movie

[@lilmike2710]

The "legal limit" nationwide used to be 0.16. that's twice the legal limit in our present time. And the penalties weren't as stiff as they are now. There was a time when the police would take you in and let you just sleep it off. They'd have your car towed over sitting there waiting for you, or they'd give you a ride to where they left it.

[@Happydogue]

Seems odd that the ad before this film was for alcohol.

[@rambojambone4586]

“Yeah, yeah. I had a coupla beers! What of it?”

[@CynicalBreed]

Better than modern-day movies.

[@saxongreen78]

Today's limit is 0.05% in Australia, and 0.00% for learners and provisional license holders - it's hard for me to imagine how the authorities thought you could still drive with up to 0.15% blood alcohol! Driving was dangerous back then - and not just because of the technology (I own a 1962 car and I've never felt seriously disadvantaged in traffic) - the attitudes were appalling!

[@markflierl1624]

Australia is now a bigger nanny state than the US. I feel sorry for you guys!

[@Mercmad]

@@markflierl1624 COVID 1984 has reinforced the socialist agenda even more so.

[@Holocaustica]

If the limit was still .15 in 2003, I wouldn’t have 2 dui convictions that REALLY messed up my life for awhile.

[@1959blantz]

If you watch these type of "Don't Drink And Drive" videos, and wonder how it didn't happen to you, hit the thumbs up.

[@ivanleterror9158]

Actually it did happen to me. Picking up a damaged car from a wreck I had a drunk blow through my flare pattern on the 405 in Sherman Oaks and send my truck and that car 20 feet down the road. He looks up at me and says "what did I hit?" I was close enough to put my hand on his door and tell him to sit there while I recalled a traffic unit. Also rear ended once by a drunk with no damage.

[@BladeRunner25463c]

Last time I had a DWI in 1985 i passed all the field sobriety tests but blew a 0.20

[@CamaroAmx]

my dad and grandfather refused to wear a seatbelt, even to this day. their claim was friend that were killed due to seatbelts. I've always worn my seatbelt and it has saved my butt a few times over the years.

[@bobbyheffley4955]

I wear my safety belt too.

[@sixgundave]

Thumbnail girl was a true stunner in her day.

[@Marcus_Halberstram]

This video actually explains why you get drunk in the first place. If you consume more than 3/8 ounces of alcohol (~11ml) your liver can't keep up. I need a bigger liver, or a more capable at that.

[@jimg4915]

Yeah, nowadays all I smell is marijuana while driving on the parkways.

[@timvandenbrink4461]

Every day! But that doesn’t seem to be a problem. 😳

[@waynewright2886]

Culver City, Calif Cops in their 61 Mercury's at the Time!

[@SigEpBlue]

Dang. By the title, I thought this was going to be a film about using nitrous oxide for horsepower. :/ I agree with torontostablaguy; these safety films, withOUT the cheesy modern shock/drama, seem to sit in the psyche deeper.

[@aydenlokey3641]

this film though having its inaccuracies to modern da alcoholy limits still should be shown in drivers education

[@DuyNguyen-fo8vl]

But one thing sure im still watching these old

[@manhoot]

Don't drink and drive. You might hit a bump and spill your drink

[@hornet6969]

US Auto : You are missing the audio for the right channel. Just FYI.

[@tomservo56954]

The drunk from the bar is going out onto Washington Boulevard in Culver City...Anderson Brothers Oldsmobile faces the cross street, Sepulveda Boulevard--across the road from the stand with the giant donut on top (the future Randy's Donuts, then known as the Big Donut Drive-In).

[@Braskus]

Did that cop take blood from that guy on the side of the road!?

[@aprillamb1404]

I am sure that in 1961 they was not so much worried about texting and driving to make a educational video about it.

[@hooligan2005]

Bill looks like Kurt Russell

[@Mercmad]

If you got pulled over by Broderick Crawford of the highway patrol , there was every chance he would share a drink or three with you ...

[@Texassince1836]

"we all know that gasoline and alcohol don't mix". Well then why does the government force us to put it in our gasoline tanks? If im ever in a wreck my pickup truck wont pass a sobriety test, its been drinking 20 proof corn liquor all day long.

[@101Volts]

+Texassince1836 Kind of a dated phrasing, isn't it? I'm not saying you don't know but to point out the obvious, it's referring to "drinking and driving". Really, any combination of Gasoline and Ethanol and Methanol can run in a gasoline motor... It's just a matter of having the car set up to do so. Driving inebriated, though...

[@markflierl1624]

@ Austin Lucas He's being sarcastic. How do you not see that!

[@exoticcar5482]

The carburetors of small engines and old car owners are cringing at the government right now

[@watcher206]

@@exoticcar5482 thats about right. When ethanol sets inside of the carburetor float Bowl for too long it starts turning into a yellow gel, since the carburetors float bowl is open to the Atmosphere by Design; this allows moisture to reach the fuel inside the carburetor. This gel can plug the carburetor's fuel ports requiring the carburetor to be disassembled, cleaned and reassembled. For long term storage of a carbureted engine; running it out of gas is one option. Another option is to use ethanol free gasoline if you can find it. Third option is to use fuel stabilizer, if used correctly it should extend the life of the gas for a while before going stale.

[@exoticcar5482]

@@watcher206 I only have to worry about ethanol for my outdoor power equipment, but that stuff's still expensive as hell. Particularly my snow blower and generator are used so little that if i used regular pump gas in them, the carbs would've crapped out by now. You'd think by now the government or gas companies would allow for sale of an off-road dyed ethanol free gas at pumps for such uses as they do with off-road diesel. It should ideally allow for a lower price as well since it's off road fuel and there'd (or at least shouldn't) be no road tax on it. It baffles me that this isn't a thing or at least more of a thing. The ethanol free cans of gas at hardware stores are quite pricey

[@zamblammer9015]

Did they ever make any of these pulic safety videos about the dangers of female drivers?

[@seanchriscraft]

Was that first guy Ted Kennedy?

[@peterm1826]

no there wasn't a lake anywhere

[@johnbasil7882]

Bad Bill!!!

[@peterm1826]

sillybilly

[@Frenite]

Bill looks like a young Brian Wilson

[@lucycats6282]

Why dont they show these sorta films in school? Oh wait I know

[@deaconrogers8193]

Or the danger of Jodi Arias driving since you think she is 100% innocent.

[@esjihn]

2:00 grandma lookin fine.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

Cool eyeliner...pre-Goth Goth.

[@johnazhderian5734]

In Russia just two bottles of vodka straight makes a driver do interesting things.

[@samuelmccarter4659]

O.15 is alot more than 2 beers

[@critchley3819]

Don't drive drunk, its so easy, there is no need, to be guilty of killing while under the influence could ruin your future existence, just don't do it..

[@mavallarino]

He was libido drunk, Billie Billie!

[@furyiiiplate]

NOS. I thought it was a Video on adding Nitrous to your hot rod jalopy... Anyway, 0.15% Legal Limit was the really good ole days.

[@eajosephedward]

buzzed driving is drunk driving

[@bobbyheffley4955]

Friends don't let friends drive drunk.

[@richardgoldman8761]

Placement advertising, Culver City PD getting a kick-back from the local Buttwiper and PBR distributers. Drunk driving penalty in 61'- Lobotomy The good ol' days, when you could drive drunk w/o a seatbelt! While you're waiting that 1 hr between beers, smoke a phattie! And they towed his Mercury!

[@justinturner2861]

.15% 😂😂😂😂

[@peterm1826]

hahaha a superman complex okay sounds my dad dad can i borrow the car NO YOU'LL GET A SUPERMAN COMPLEX

[@sevencorsa]

Nothing good comes out of alcohol

[@gregdolecki8530]

White Russians are pretty good.

[@bobby-ry1ze]

.15, wow, that means all Kennedy's were.30 and Hillary too! No wonder she stumbles...………..