Drink driving

Nearly 1 in 7 of all deaths on the road involves drivers who are over the current legal drink/drive limit. The risk of being involved in an accident increases rapidly with the amount of alcohol consumed.

Many motorists believe they are safe to drive if they are below the current legal limit.

They are wrong:

• Even one drink will have an effect on your driving ability and judgment, starting with your judgment about whether you should have another drink
• You may not be able to judge speed and distance accurately
• Your ability to react may be severely affected, which will increase stopping distances
• Your judgment of risk may be affected and you will have a tendency to be over confident and put yourself in danger
• Any alcohol, even a small drink, will impair driving ability
• Alcohol takes effect quickly but wears off slowly. It is absorbed into the bloodstream, affecting the brain and impairing driving ability
• The current legal limit for driving in the UK is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood

The Consequences of Drinking and Driving

Every day, on average, 255 people in the UK fail a breath test. All that it takes for you to be stopped and breath tested is for the police to have a reasonable suspicion that you may have been drinking.

Offences

• Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
• Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.
• In charge of a vehicle whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.
• Refusing to provide a specimen.
  

Maximum Penalty

• 10 years imprisonment and a disqualification of at least 2 years
• 6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5000 and a disqualification of at least 12 months(3 years automatic ban if convicted twice in 10 years)
• 3 months imprisonment plus a fine of £2000 and a disqualification
• 6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5000 and a disqualification of at least 12 months

Other Consequences

• Criminal record.
• Possible loss of livelihood.
• Increased insurance cost.
• Extreme difficulty in hiring a car for around ten years.
• Legal expenses.
• Loss of personal transport and increased travel expenses.
• Effect on family life.
• Living with your conscience.
• Living with the knowledge that your irresponsibility has caused death, injury or severe distress to innocent people.
• Being seriously injured or disabled yourself If convicted of a drink drive offence you may be referred to a rehabilitation course.
• Possible retesting.