Do not let drink-driving play merry hell with your Christmas

Yes, it is that time of year once more. So let’s eat, drink and be merry. But let’s also leave the automobile at property.

In 2012, there were 230 deaths due to drink driving – and the quantity of casualties is greater in November and December as the Christmas celebration season gets underway.

Over the limit

The law is strict about alcohol limits for drivers. The legal limit is

• 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 25 millilitres of breath


• 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, or


• 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 25 millilitres of urine.

In Scotland the limit will be 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 25 millilitres of blood (and equivalent measures) from December 5 onwards.

Measure for measure

It is not possible safely to translate the limits into precise measures. Alcohol impacts men and women in different ways and depends on your weight, age, sex and metabolism.

The type of alcohol you are drinking, no matter whether or not you have eaten and your anxiety levels can also impact your potential to tolerate and approach the demon drink.

In other words, your buddy could get behind the wheel right after a single glass of wine, but you could be more than the limit.

Slow reactions

Even a small quantity of alcohol can impair your driving capability.

It makes it a lot more difficult to judge distance and speed and our reactions are also slower, which most likely explains why a big proportion of drink-drive accidents happen inside 3 miles of the commence of the journey.

Very easily done

Drink-drivers don’t typically conform to the stereotype of the raging boozer who can barely stroll let alone handle a automobile.

A lot more frequently than not the miscreant is the mum who takes the vehicle to her friend’s property, has a few glasses of wine, but decides to danger the short journey property.

Or the man who nips into the pub on the way back from function, has one also many, then gets in the auto.

That’s why most experts advise that you steer clear of all alcoholic drinks if you are driving. Enjoy a soft drink, non-alcoholic beer or a mocktail as an alternative.

Morning right after

And don’t picture you will be sober by the morning, either.

It requires time for alcohol to operate its way out of your technique and no quantity of coffee or cold showers will support.

Did you know, for example, that you shouldn’t drive for 13 hours following downing a bottle of wine or 4 pints of lager? If you stop drinking at midnight, you need to not as a result get behind the wheel until the afternoon of the following day.

Resist temptation

It is less difficult to resist temptation if you plan ahead. Take benefit of any public transport. Carry taxi numbers or book a taxi in advance so you can always get home.

Alternatively, you could designate a driver if you are with a group of pals – and make sure they abstain from alcohol.

Harsh penalties

Drinking and driving can have a devastating influence on your life and the lives of others – you could, of course, injure or even kill somebody.

The penalties if you’re caught driving over the legal alcohol limit are also harsh:

• at the extremely least, you will be banned from driving for a minimum of 1 year


• you could be fined up to £5,000


• you will finish up with a criminal record


• your licence will be endorsed for 11 years


• you could even be sent to prison for up to 6 months, depending on the severity of the offence.

The police will also approach your case just as they would any other criminal or suspected criminal. So, if you fail a roadside breath test, you will be arrested and taken to a police station. You will then undertake additional tests and could be charged. It’s undoubtedly no enjoyable.

Higher price tag

There are economic implications of drink driving, as well.

Insurers definitely don’t like motorists with earlier convictions, so your insurance premium will most most likely rocket. You could also drop your job if it includes driving and you could be denied access to other countries, including the USA.

The Institute of Sophisticated Motorists reckons that a drink drive conviction could expense amongst £20,000 and £50,000 if you take into account fines, legal costs, vehicle insurance coverage and unemployment – and that is a lot of funds for a couple of glasses of wine.

The message is clear. If you are out this festive season, it should be a case of none for the road rather than a single for the road.

Do not let drink-driving play merry hell with your Christmas