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Drink driving The factsDrink driving is illegal and puts lives at risk.It is not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit. The way alcohol affects you depends on:- your weight, age, sex and metabolism (the rate your body uses energy)
- the type and amount of alcohol you’re drinking
- what you’ve eaten recently
- your stress levels at the time
So if you’re driving, it’s better to have none for the road.IAM RoadSmart calculates that a drink drive conviction could cost up to £70,000 as a result of fines, solicitors fees, increase in the cost of car insurance, and losing a job.The lawThere are strict alcohol limits for UK drivers: In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit for drivers is: 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urineIn Scotland (from 5 December 2014), the legal alcohol limit for drivers is lower at: 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood67 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.The consequencesThere are strict penalties if you are convicted of drink driving, including: a minimum 12 month driving bana criminal recordan unlimited fineup to 6 months in prisonan endorsement on your licence for 11 yearsThe maximum penalty for causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs is 14 years in prison, with a minimum driving ban of two years. In addition to these penalties are the everyday consequences of being caught drink driving which can include: increase in car insurance costsjob losstrouble getting in to countries like the USAthe shame of having a criminal recordloss of independence |
