Drink Driving
Over 1 in 6 of all deaths on the road involve 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.
The current legal limit for driving in the UK is 35 microgrammes
of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath or 80 milligrammes of
alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
It is impossible to judge the amount of alcohol that you
are able to consume before you are over the limit.
Many motorists believe they are safe to drive even if they are
below the current legal limit.
They are wrong:
- Alcohol takes effect quickly but wears off slowly. It is
absorbed into the bloodstream, affecting the brain and
impairing driving ability
- 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
The only safe level of alcohol
is NONE
The Consequences of Drinking and Driving
On average, 255 people in the UK fail a breath test every day.
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. If you are involved in a collision of any kind (even if
its not your fault) you will be asked to take a breath
test.
You may be charged with:-
- 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 of blood or breath.
Penalties for the above offences are :-
- 10 years imprisonment and a mandatory disqualification from
driving of at least 2 years
- 6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000 and a mandatory
disqualification from driving of at least 12 months (3 years
automatic ban if convicted twice in 10 years)
- 3 months imprisonment plus a fine of £2,000 and a mandatory
disqualification from driving of at least 12 months
- 6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000 and a mandatory
disqualification from driving of at least 12 months
Other consequences:-
- Criminal record
- Possible loss of livelihood
- Increased insurance cost
- Extreme difficulty in hiring a car
- Legal expenses
- Loss of personal transport and increased travel expenses
- Effect on family life
- Living with the knowledge that you have caused death, injury or
severe distress to innocent people
- Being seriously injured or disabled yourself
- Potential referral to an alcohol rehabilitation
course
- Possibly having to take your driving test again
- Restriction on travel to some countries including the
USA
The only safe option is
not to drink and drive.
Bedford Borough Council Road Safety
Team
(01234) 228336
Email road.safety@bedford.gov.uk
