Drink and drug driving
Drinking and driving don't mix
3,000 people are killed or seriously injured on roads each year in drink related crashes and nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers over the legal limit. If you plan to drink, don't risk driving - book a taxi, use public transport, stay overnight, arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive.
Consequences of drink driving
On average 100,000 drivers are convicted every year for drink driving. The police can ask you to take a breath test if they suspect you have been drinking or if you commit a traffic offence.
If you are convicted of drink driving:
- You'll have a criminal record
- You could go to prison for up to 10 years
- You could be banned from driving
- You could be fined heavily
- You could lose your job
- Your insurance costs will increase dramatically
Safe levels of alcohol
Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely impairing your reaction times and your ability to judge speed and distances. The only guaranteed safe level is no alcohol.
Factors which affect your ability to absorb alcohol:
- Your weight
- Your sex
- Your age
- Your metabolism
- Stress levels
- What you've eaten
- The amount and type of alcohol
The legal alcohol limit for driving in the UK is - 80 Mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.
The only safe option is not to drink if you plan to drive and not offer drinks to others who are driving.
The morning after
Nearly one in five people who are convicted of drink driving are caught the morning after and do not realise that they can still lose their licence if they are over the legal alcohol level.
If you have been out drinking the night before you may still be affected by alcohol the next day. You may feel OK when you get up but you may still be unfit to drive or over the legal alcohol limit. A shower, cup of coffee, or other ways of `sobering up` will not help, it just takes time.
- Alcohol also tends to make you feel over confident and more likely to take risks when driving. The implications of a drink drive conviction can be far reaching
- Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban
- An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years, so it is 11 years before a convicted driver will have a 'clean' licence again
- Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in 3 months' imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban
- Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, a minimum 2 year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to drive legally again
Drug driving
Driving under the influence of drugs - whether prescribed medication or illegal substances - is just as dangerous as driving when drunk. It's also against the law.
Drugs can affect your mind and body in a variety of ways that mean you aren't able to drive safely. Not only that, the effects can last for hours or even days.
Drug tests
The police can carry out roadside tests of impairment to help them decide whether to arrest you if they think you are unfit to drive through drugs.
The penalties are the same as for drink driving. You face a minimum one year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000, and six months jail.
How drugs affect your driving:
- Slower reaction times
- Poor concentration
- Sleepiness / fatigue
- Confused thinking
- Distorted perception
- Over confidence, so you take unnecessary risks
- Impaired co-ordination
- Erratic behaviour
- Nausea
- Hallucinations
- Blurred vision / enlarged pupils
- Aggression
- Panic attacks and paranoia
- Tremors
- Dizziness
- Cramps
Your eyes will give you away and it may be one trip too far.
THINK! Partners
THINK! is working with a range of partners to reward designated drivers on a night out.
Look out for the 'Driver friendly' logo to take advantage of promotional offers.
Cabwise
Choose your cabs carefully - make sure they are fully liciensed.
Cabwise text service
Text CAB to 60835* and we'll use GPS to text your two nearest minicab numbers and one taxi (black cab) number.
*Text charged at 35p per enquiry plus standard text message rate.
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Page updated: 21 Dec 2011
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