Drink driving laws explained in time for safe summer fun

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Despite the high profile facts about how drink affects driving accuracy and safety, and despite the stark stats about how many people are killed and injured each year as a result, up to four million drivers continue to think they are immune to alcohol's effects on their driving.

Not only do drink drivers risk killing and injuring people AND losing their licence, they are at a massive financial disadvantage. If convicted, car insurance premiums will soar and any future insurance cover will be limited.

Stark truths

• On average, according to THINK! the road safety website, 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive accidents

• Nearly one sixth of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit

• Young men aged 17-29 are more likely to be involved in both casualties and positive breath test following a collision.

• 2004 provisional figures show that 90 people were killed in crashes in which a driver was over the legal limit, 2,350 were seriously injured and 14,050 were slightly injured.

• More that half million breath tests are carried out each year, on average 100,000 are found positive.

Are you safe?

The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. This is usually considered to be around three halves of normal strength beer, three small glasses of wine, or three single measures of spirits. However, this varies considerable depending on the brand/drink consumed.

In fact, any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. Effects of alcohol include:

• Slower reactions
• Increased stopping distances
• Poorer judgement of speed and distance
• Reduced field of vision

Alcohol can make you feel over confident and more likely to take risks. This increases the danger to yourself and other road users.

You can not calculate your alcohol limit. There is no failsafe guide as to how to drink and stay under the legal limit and how to still drive safely. It depends:

• Weight, sex and metabolism
• Stress levels
• Empty stomach/food intake
• Amount and type of alcohol

At twice the current legal limit you are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.

The SAFE option is to NOT drink if you plan to drive. Never offer a drink to someone who is driving.

If you have been out drinking you may still be over the legal limit the following morning. If you drive the next day and are still over the legal limit you could still lose your licence. A shower, cup of coffee or other ways of 'sobering up' will not get the alcohol out of your body any faster. It takes time.

The Law

• Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban. If you re-offend with in 10 years you could face a mandatory disqualification of 3 years.

• An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years, so it is 11 years before a convicted driver will have a 'clean' licence again.

• Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in 3 months' imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban.

• The penalty for refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis is a maximum 6 months' imprisonment, up to £5000 fine and a driving ban of at least 12 months.

• Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, a minimum 2 year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to drive legally again.

If convicted of drink driving:

• You will have a criminal record
• You won't be able to drive for at least a year
• You could lose your job
• Your lifestyle could change dramatically
• You have trouble hiring a car for next 10 years
• You will pay more for you car insurance in the future

Once you have a drink driving conviction the prospects of finding competitive comprehensive car insurance will be seriously impaired. Few insurers will want to take on the risk of insuring you.

Those who will insure you will charge sky high premiums. Insurance premiums can escalate to over £2,000 for a modest family car.

If you want to go out and drink:

• Book a taxi
• Use public transport
• Stay over night
• Drink soft drinks until you get home
• Arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive

Be safe! Be sensible! Don't drink & drive this summer.