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Drinking and Driving

Nationally 3,500 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive accidents. Any alcohol, even a small drink, will impair driving ability.

Nearly one in seven of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the current legal 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 driving ability and on your judgement.

There is no excuse to drink and drive

• 'I had a drink earlier'

  For a man of average weight, it takes one hour for the body to get rid of one unit of alcohol.

• 'I feel fine to drive'

  Any amount of alcohol will affect your driving performance.

• 'I only had a couple'

  Even a single drink will affect your driving performance.

• 'I had a meal'

  Alcohol just takes a little longer to get into your system, your driving will still be affected.

• 'I can handle my drink'

  You may think you can handle your drink, but you will have difficulty judging distance and speed. Your reactions are slower, so it will take you longer to stop.

• 'I'm only going down the road'

  A large proportion of all drink drive accidents occur within 3 miles of the start of the journey.

• 'I'm driving slowly and carefully'

  Alcohol actually makes you less alert.

• 'I won't get stopped'

  The police can ask you to take a breath test if they suspect you have been drinking, if you commit a traffic offence, or if you are involved in an accident.

How much can I drink and still be under the legal limit?

You can't calculate your alcohol limit – so don't try.

There is no failsafe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit. The amount and type of alcoholic drink and your weight, sex, age and metabolism will all play their part.

The quantity of alcohol in a half-pint of beer is approximately the same as in a pub measure of port/sherry or a small glass of wine. But:

• Many beers and wines are stronger than average
• Drinks poured at home are usually more generous than pub measures
• Cocktails and alcopops are very strong. Their high alcoholic content is often masked by the taste of fruit juice.

Any amount of alcohol will affect your judgement, starting with your judgement about whether you should have another drink.

At twice the current legal limit you are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.

If I've been drinking in the evening is it ok to drive the next morning?

You may still be affected by alcohol the next day. Drive and you could lose your licence if you are still over the legal limit.

It's possible to absorb alcohol faster if you drink on empty stomach or take long drinks made with fizzy mixers.

The buzz comes quickly ...

Take half a pint of ordinary strength beer:

• After just 10 minutes - 50% of the alcohol will be in your bloodstream
• After 60 minutes - all of the alcohol will be in your bloodstream 

The booze goes slowly ...

Take a Saturday night out drinking:

• At midnight - you may have 200mg of alcohol in the blood
• At 7.30am - when you get up, there is still 90mg in the blood and you are still over the current legal limit and unfit to drive
• By midday - you're down to around 20mg and under the current legal limit. But your driving may still be affected and you could be guilty of an offence 

It is impossible to get rid of alcohol any faster. Neither a shower, nor a cup of coffee, nor other ways of sobering up will help.  It just takes time.

Drinking and Driving has lasting consequences

Offence
Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
Maximum Penalty
10 years imprisonment and a disqualification of at least 2 years

Offence
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.
Maximum Penalty
6 months imprisonment , plus a fine of £5,000 and a disqualification of at least 12 months (3 years automatic ban if convicted twice in 10 years).

Offence
In charge of a vehicle whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.
Maximum Penalty
3 months imprisonment plus a fine of £2,500 and a disqualification.

Offence
Refusing to provide a specimen.
Maximum Penalty
6 months imprisonment, plus a fine of £5,000 and a disqualification of at least 12 months.

(Correct at time of publication. For further details please refer to the website link on the right of this page to the Highway Code)

Other consequences of being convicted of drink driving:

• You'll have a criminal record
• You will possibly lose your livelihood
• Your insurance costs will increase
• You will have extreme difficulty in hiring a car for around 10 years
• The loss of personal transport and increased travel expenses
• Living with the knowledge that you irresponsibility has caused death, injury or severe distress.

But I want to go out and enjoy myself!

You don't need to mix drinking and driving.

• Book a taxi
• Use public transport
• Stay overnight
• Drink soft drinks until you get home
• Arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive – you can take it in turns

What will it take to stop you drink driving??

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