Drink driving is a major contributing factor to death on UK roads each year. The effects can be devastating, and as a result, the law is strict when it comes to driving under the influence. The legal limit is very clear and in the UK the alcohol limit for drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millimeters of blood. 35 micrograms per 100 millimeters of breath or 107 milligrams per 100 millimeters of urine. In other European countries the limit is even lower.
Every year, hundreds of unavoidable deaths occur on our roadways as a result of alcohol-related driving incidents. Hours of police time are wasted stopping and searching drivers during busy periods, such as weekends and holidays, when drink driving is at its peak. Some people insist that they know exactly what they can drink before going over the limit, but this is not reliable. There are many factors that complicate the facts and in reality it is advisable to take extreme precautions.
How much can you drink then? This is the million dollar question and the answer is probably that you shouldn’t drink at all if you also plan to drive. It is very difficult to judge what is a safe amount of alcohol to consume while driving as it depends on various factors such as weight, gender, age, stress levels, metabolism and also what you have eaten. The main effects of alcohol on people who drive are as follows… and they can have tragic consequences.
1: Messages from the eye to the brain take much longer than usual.
2: Processing any information is much more difficult.
3: Muscle responses slow down.
4: Drivers can get sleepy and even fall asleep at the wheel.
5: Nausea can make drivers feel sick and take their eyes off the road.
6: A feeling of invincibility can arise from drinking too much, which can cause drivers to act rashly.
7: Anger can arise by giving people more reasons to indulge in road rage.
8: Sudden power outages may occur.
9: Passengers can be more of a distraction to a driver who has been drinking.
10: General miscalculation of speed of oncoming traffic or pedestrians.
We suggest that the best way to avoid the potentially tragic circumstances that can result from drink driving is simply not to drink anything while in charge of a vehicle. Peer pressure can have an effect on young people who may be pressured to drive at inappropriate times or in circumstances that may be illegal.
If you suspect that someone you know may be about to get into a car and drive under the influence of alcohol, try to reason with that person and, if they persist in their plans, get help to take the car keys and call the police.
While deaths on our highways as a result of drink driving have declined dramatically over the years, there are still hundreds each year. People must be educated about the risks of drink driving and the culprits must be punished. Be alert and always intervene if someone you know plans to drive under the influence.
