Drink driving : THINK! :Cross Stitch

It’s not worth the risk

In 2010, 250 people died due to drink driving. By drinking and driving, you risk your life and those of your passengers and others on the road.

Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. You risk a fine of up to £5,000, a minimum 12-month driving ban and a criminal record.

The facts

• 14% of road fatalities in 2010 were caused by drink driving
• A drink drive conviction can result in job loss, strain on personal relationships and higher insurance costs
• Tolerance to alcohol depends on a combination of factors: weight, age, gender, stress and recent food consumption
• The best way to remain safe is not to drink and drive

Time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system
You could be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if it’s the ‘morning after’. Sleep, coffee and cold showers don’t help to sober you up.

There is no excuse for drink driving
“I can handle my drink.”

Alcohol affects everybody’s driving for the worse. It creates a feeling of overconfidence, makes judging distance and speed more difficult and slows your reactions so it takes longer to stop.

“I’m only going down the road.”

A large proportion of all drink drive crashes occur within three miles of the start of the journey.

If you’re planning to drink alcohol, plan how to get home without driving
Options include agreeing on a designated driver, saving a taxi number to your phone, or finding out about public transport routes and times before you go out.

Don’t offer an alcoholic drink to someone you know is planning to drive
Even if you’re not driving, you can help reduce the number of people who are killed and injured every year by drink driving.

Don’t accept a lift from a driver you know has drunk alcohol