• Introduction
• Facts
• Alternatives
• Consequences
• Effects

Introduction

Over 16,000 casualties in 1998, including 460 deaths, were caused by accidents where at least one driver was over the legal alcohol limit. Even a very small amount of alcohol affects driving.

Facts

Any alcohol, even a small drink, will make you a worse driver. You don't judge speed and distance so well. You don't react so fast.  

The only safe way is not to drink if you are driving. And never offer a drink to someone else who is.

Could you live with yourself if you killed someone or maimed them for life?

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Alternatives

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

  Consequences

  If you are convicted of drink driving.....

• you'll have a criminal record;
• you won't be allowed to drive for at least a year;
• you could lose your job;
• your insurance costs will rocket;
• you'll have real trouble hiring a car for the next ten years; and
• people will look down on you.

  But it could be worse if you kill someone.....

  if you are convicted of:	the maximum penalty is:
  Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.	10 years imprisonment and banned for at least 2 years.
  Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.	6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000 and banned for at least 12 months (3 years if you're convicted twice in 10 years).
  In charge of a vehicle whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink.	3 months imprisonment plus a fine of £2,500 and a ban.
  Refusing to provide a specimen	6 months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000 and banned for at least 12 months.

  You may be referred to a rehabilitation course as well. And the court case will cost you money.

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  You could even become a 'high risk offender'.....

• if you refuse to provide a specimen, or
• if you are convicted at 2.5 times the limit; or
• if you are convicted twice in 10 years, in which case you will be banned from driving for a minimum of 3 years.

  Then you would have to satisfy an approved doctor that you do not have a drink problem before you got your licence back (and you'd have to pay for the medical).

  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 current limit. The amount and type of alcoholic drink and your weight, sex, age and metabolism will all play their part.

  Effects

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

• any beers and wines are stronger than average
• drinks poured at home are usually more generous than pub measures
• cocktails 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 accident.

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  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.

  60 MINUTES After an hour all the alcohol will be in your bloodstream.

  The booze goes slowly.....

  Take a Saturday night out drinking.

  AT MIDNIGHT You may have 200mg/100ml of alcohol in the blood.

  AT 7.30am When you get up, there is still 90mg/100ml and you are still over the current legal limit and unfit to drive.

  BY MIDDAY By lunchtime, you're down to around 20mg/100ml and under the current legal limit. But your driving may still be affected and you could be guilty of an offence.

  If you've been out drinking you may still be affected by alcohol the next day. Drive and you could still lose your licence if you are still over the legal limit.

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

  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.

  Nearly one in seven of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. Don't be one of them.

  Don't

  Drink

  and

  Drive

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