Why do people agree to be publicly humiliated on national TV? The surprising reasons drivers allow their drunken brushes with the law to be filmed
- Channel Nine’s Random Breath Testing features drivers well above the limit
- Drivers have shared the bizarre reasons some agree to be shown on the hit series
- While consent is always required, some said they were simply too drunk to care
- Others said it was the drivers’ way of atoning for their dangerous behaviour
Drivers offered their fifteen minutes of fame on the hit Australian series RBT have shared some of the surprising reasons why many agree to be on the show.
The Channel Nine program features drivers being pulled over for a random breath test and their ridiculous reasons for getting behind the wheel while above the legal alcohol limit.
Most drivers would find it too embarrassing to get caught for drink driving only to have their faces splashed on TV – but some motorists seem unfazed.
In a Reddit thread drivers have shared the bizarre reasons people find themselves starring in an episode.
Drivers who were offered their fifteen minutes of fame on the hit Australian series RBT have shared the surprising reasons why many agree to be on the show
‘I got pulled over by a cop car for a breath test 12 years ago and there was a film crew with them,’ one said.
‘I blew just over the limit and had to walk home but they asked if they could use the footage for the show which I of course declined.
‘My theory is that half the time the people are drunk so they don’t care about tomorrow and agree… the other half are just knuckleheads who think it will boost their reputation amongst their peers if televised.’
Another said often motorists were just ‘stoked’ to be on TV.
‘I reckon the type of person who breaks the law and carries on like a goose, isn’t going to be super worried about ruining their life,’ they said.
‘I doubt they even see it that way, they probably think they’re legends.’
One Reddit user said some intoxicated drivers bizarrely thought the footage would work in their favour.
‘You also get the few who think they know “the system” better than the police, and hope that they’ll be able to access the raw footage to help their day in court,’ they said.
‘Either 1) suggesting the police didn’t follow procedure, or 2) suggesting that their public humiliation is punishment enough and convince the magistrate to give them a lighter punishment.’
RBT has been a highly popular show since airing in 2010 (pictured driver who had a negative test)
One motorist said they were stopped at one of the RBT filming sites but didn’t blow over the limit.
‘The producer asked me would I consent to them using it in the show. I said I’d prefer not, and what’s the point anyway I didn’t test positive and I didn’t carry on like a pork chop,’ they said.
Another speculated paid actors were sometimes used.
TV producer, Jennifer Collins, has previously said motorists wanting to atone for their drink driving was often the reason they agreed to be shown on television.
‘I think drivers are remorseful, I think that’s why they want to be part of the show,’ she told Nine News.
‘A lot of them feel like they want to publicly say “I’m not going to do this again, I’m going to change my ways” and if they actually declare that to their family and to the public that they’ll actually go ahead and do that.’
Some drivers said people often found themselves on the hit Channel Nine show because they were ‘too drunk’ to care (stock image of random breath test)
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