| |
www.bllaw.co.uk/services_for_individuals/motoring_offences.aspx
www.motoringlaw.co.uk
FACTS ABOUT DRINK DRIVING
What is the drink driving limit?
In the UK the drink driving limit is:
35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; or
80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; or
107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.
So here's a question: what is a drink driver?
We often think of a 'drink driver' as a very drunk person, not a careful social drinker: someone who has drunk so much alcohol that they can hardly stand, let alone get behind a wheel.
But the truth is that a drink driver is anyone who is over the legal alcohol limit for driving. No matter how little they may be over that limit, or how careful they think they are.
A drink driver is very often someone who thinks they'll be 'alright' with just another pint or even a half-pint. Or the morning after.
How much is too much?
The alcohol limit is there for a reason. It's because the risk of being involved in a crash is dramatically bigger, the more alcohol you drink. And even a very small amount of alcohol affects our driving skills - slows down reaction times, gives false confidence and reduces concentration.
It also makes us take risks we wouldn't normally take, even if we don't realise it.
Is drink driving really a problem?
Just look at the facts:
one in six road deaths is caused by drivers over the drink drive limit
every day around 250 drivers fail a breath test
the risk of being involved in a crash increases rapidly with the amount of alcohol drunk
even small amounts of alcohol will affect your ability to judge distance and speed, and will slow your reaction time
How will I know when I've reached the limit?
You won't, so don't try to guess whether you're alright to drive or not. If you're guessing, then you're gambling with your licence, your life and the lives of other people.
It's far better to avoid drinking at all. Or don't use the car.
What can I do to avoid a drink driving problem?
Rather than gambling with lives, pick any one of the simple ways you can easily avoid a drink driving problem:
stick to non alcoholic and soft drinks if you are the driver
if someone else is driving, make sure they stick to soft drinks
never offer an alcoholic drink to a driver
arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive
take a taxi
use public transport
stay overnight
These are the relevant drink driving offences
Failing to provide a roadside breath test (Code DR70)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 3 (£1,000)4 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
Driving/Attempting to Drive with excess alcohol (DR10)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or up to 6 months imprisonment
Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence
Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years.
Being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol (DR40)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 4 (£2,500) and/or up to 3 months imprisonment
10 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
After Driving/Attempting to drive refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR30)
Penalty - Fine - up to Level 5 (£5,000) and/or 6 months imprisonment
Mandatory disqualification for at least 12 months for first offence (18 months tends to be the norm as you are considered to have been trying to avoid being found guilty)
Mandatory disqualification for at least 3 years for second offence within 10 years
After being in charge refusing to provide samples for analysis (DR60)
Penalty - Fine - Level 4 (£2,500) and/or 3 months imprisonment
10 penalty points on your licence
Disqualification is at the discretion of the Court
It very important to remember, being involved in an accident whilst intoxicated may deem your insurance null and void.
Below is a rough guide to MORNING AFTER DRINK DRIVING.
4% beers and ciders - average strength beers and ciders are two-hour pints. Each pint takes at least two hours to leave your blood stream from when you stop drinking.5.5% beers and ciders - stronger beers and ciders are three-hour pints.
If you drink four pints of strong lager you should not drive for at least 13 hours from finishing your last pint. If you finish at midnight, you probably aren't safe until after 1pm the next day. It doesn't matter what mixer you use. The alcohol takes the same amount of time to leave your system whether your vodka's just on ice or in a large glass of orange juice. Pub measures vary - 25ml (one unit) used to be standard, but 35ml is now more common. A 25ml shot - is a one-hour drink.
A 35ml shot - is a one and a half-hour drink.
A 70ml double - is a three-hour drink.If you are pouring spirits yourself, you'll probably pour generous doubles, triples or more. Take this into account when calculating your hours.
Drink four 70ml doubles and you should not drive for 13 hours - that's 1pm the next day if you drank your last double at midnight. 250ml - 330ml bottles of 5.5% beer - bottles of this size and strength are two-hour bottles. Large 550ml bottles of beer - are three-hour bottles. 275ml - 330ml alcopops - are a two-hour drink.
Drink five large bottles of beer and you should not drive for at least 16 hours. That's 4pm the following day if you finish drinking at midnight. There are several different wine glass sizes and wine comes in different strengths - from 12%-15%. A 250ml glass of 15% wine - is a four-hour drink.Drink a bottle of 15% wine - just three 250ml glasses - and you can't drive for 13 hours - 1pm the next day if you finish at midnight.
Men v. Women - it takes exactly the same amount of time for women to lose alcohol from their blood stream as men. Their livers work at the same speed.
3%-4% cans - are a two-hour drink.5%-5.5% cans - are a two and a half-hour drink.
Super strength cans - can be a whopping 7.5% or even up to 9%. A 7.5% can is a three and a half-hour drink. A 9% can is a four-hour drink.Drink five super-strength cans and you should not drive for about 21 hours - almost a full day later.
It is important to recognize the above are approximate calculations & therefore must be treated as a ‘ guideline’ only.In all instances it is safer to err on the side of caution, take responsibility and IF DRIVING DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING. |
|
|