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Drink Drive campaign
Posted on 30/07/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk
Leicestershire Constabulary is reminding motorists that a drink drive conviction this summer could cost you your licence, your job, highere insurance costs and your freedom - as well as a fine of up to £5,000.
Our local force is taking part in a national Summer Drink and Drug Driving Campaign, which launches today (Monday July 30). This means over the next five weeks officers will be stopping and breathalysing any motorist they believe may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An incredible 100,000 drivers accross the country mistakenly thought they could get away with drink driving last year. That equates to 1 person every 9 minutes on average.
Inspector Viv Brenchley, commander of the Forces Road Policing Unit said: "Almost 600 people were killed in the UK in 2006 as the result of alcohol related collisions. Here in Leicestershire last year we ran a drink drive campaign during the month of June. In 31 days we tested 781 motorists, 83 of those were found to be over the alcohol limit" (over 10%).
"Clearly many drivers are still ignoring our advice and are putting others at risk by driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. Young drivers are now of particular concern and are featuring disproportionately in the number of motorists testing positive, especially men under the age of 25.
"Please dont give my officers the terrible job of informing your family that you have been seriously injured or worse in a drink drive related collision this summer."
The legal limit in the UK is currently 80 milligrammes of alcohol 100 millilitres of blood. However, any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely. The effects can include slower reactions, poorer judgement of speed and distance and a 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. Even having just one drink will effect you.
John Budulis, road safety police officer for Leicestershire Constabulary, said: "It takes less than you might think to become a drink driver. The only failsafe way to stay under the legal alcohol limit is to not drink at all.
"Ask yourself if that quick drink at lunch, the couple of pints in the beer garden after work or the wine at a barbecue is really worth the devastation that can result from drinking and driving.
"The message to motorists this summer is dont risk it! Officers will be actively looking for anyone they suspect to be over the limit and you dont have to be involved in a collision to be tested for drink or drugs. If you dont think youll get caught - you are wrong."
Leicestershire Constabulary is reminding motorists of the consequences of being caught over the limit after just one or two drinks|:
- You WILL be arrested, taken to a police station and charged.
- You WILL receive a drink drive conviction and a criminal record
- You WILL receive a minimum 12-month driving ban
- You COULD be fined up to £5,000
- You COULD go to prison for up to six months. If you cause death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol you could go to prison for 14 years.
- You COULD lose your job or miss out on future jobs
- You WILL have higher insurance costs
- You WILL have to explain yourself to family, friends and your partner
Most drink drivers dont plan to break the law. So to make sure you dont become another statistic, here are several ways you can avoid drinking and driving:
- Book a taxi. To make sure you get one, book it as early as you can in the evening.
- At the start of the night agree whos driving and not drinking.
- Use public transport routes to help you get home.
- If youre at a friends house, stay overnight.
- Dont get into a car driven by someone else whos been drinking.
Dont rush to get behind the wheel the morning after youve been out drinking. You may feel fine but you could still be over the legal alcohol limit or unfit to drive.
A cold shower, a cup of coffee or any of the other myths about sobering up wont make you fit to drive any faster. It just takes time to get the alcohol out of your system.
What drinking does to your driving
You may think youre in control but any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely.
The effects of alcohol on your driving include:- Slower reactions.
- Reduced field of vision.
- Poorer judgement of speed and distance.
- Overconfidence and increased risk taking, increasing the danger to all road users including yourself.