Drink and Driving guide - Vehicle Virus

Do Not Drink and Drive
It takes less than you might think to become a drink driver - think about the dangers of having a couple of drinks and driving, you cannot calculate your alcohol limit or rely on your own 'rule of thumb' of what is safe to drink and drive, watch out for those dangerous 'Fancy a Quick One!' moments.

If you risk having a drink and then getting behind the wheel, you could pay for it for the rest of your life.

Drinking and Driving Do Not Mix.
Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely. The effects can include:

- Slower reactions,
- Increased stopping distance,
- Poorer judgment of speed and distance,
- Reduced field of vision.

Alcohol also tends to make you feel over-confident and more likely to take risks when driving, which increases the danger to all road users, including yourself.

You Cannot Calculate Your Alcohol Limit, So Do Not Try

There is no failsafe guide as to how to stay under the legal alcohol limit or how much you can drink and still drive safely. It depends on:

- Your weight,
- Sex,
- Age,
- Metabolism,
- Stress levels,
- An empty stomach,
- The amount and type of alcohol.

The only safe option is not to drink if you plan to drive. Never offer a drink to someone else who is driving.

3,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads each year in drink drive related crashes and nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit.

If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash compared to a driver who has not been drinking.

You may feel as if your ok to drive but anyone who is caught driving under the influence of alcohol will be arrested and dealt with through the courts.

Vehicle Virus advises anyone wishing to travel on the roads:

Don't drink and drive - there is no safe limit.

Do not take drugs/medicine and drive as they have side effects and it will effect your driving, always consult with your doctor or pharmacy.

If you are going out in a group, designate a driver who will NOT drink alcohol or   take drugs.

Make alternative arrangements to get home, such as a train, licensed taxi (displaying yellow round badges front and rear screen or a black cab with square license plate on the boot lid).

Do not get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs. Let them know they should not be driving, if they still drive off; report them to a police officer to save lives.

Stop Checks by Police.

As part of the stop checks, as well as drink and drive the police will also be checking the safety of drivers and passengers, ensuring they are wearing seatbelts, together with making sure that drivers are not using hand-held mobiles. Those found not wearing seatbelts will be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £30. Drivers using a hand-held mobile will be subject to a £60 fine plus three penalty points on their license, the fine rising to between £1000 and £2500 for drivers of buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles, and if your caught drink driving you will be breathalyzed and if you fail it you will arrested and dealt with through the courts, probably heavy fine, banned from driving, if you caused an accident while under influence of alcohol you will face a prison sentence.