Christmas Drink Driving, Some Advice!

[T.C]

With the party season almost upon us, I thought it may be a good time to give everyone a gentle reminder of the pitfalls of over endulging in the alcoholic stuff, particularly if it is your intention to drive or ride over the Christmas period.

First of all, the legal alcohol breath limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath although the UK prosecution limit is 40 mg. In blood it is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, and anything above these limits will rsult in a prosecution.

The way alcohol affects individuals is dependant on many issues, for example build, body mass, food eaten, state of mind, health, and so on, so it is impossible to say that 1 pint of beer is OK, simply because alcohol affects different people in different ways.

Also bear in mind, that if you have been on a binge session say on a Sunday lunchtime, the chances are that you will still be over the limit the following morning. As a rule, it takes about 8 hours for the body to completely dispose or purge the system of any alcohol in the body, which is why pilots have the rule of 8 hours bottle to throttle. However, after a binge session you could be looking at up to 16 - 18 hours before the system is purged, and if you drink every day after the binge, all that will happen is that you will top yourself up and be constantly over the limit.

Even after one pint the senses and reaction times are dulled, and anyone who says that they are sharper and more alert after a drink is talking absolute bollocks. They may feel more alert, but the reality is that their ability is already impaired, and I have had drivers over the limit on a glass of sherry or a pint of bitter shandy even though they felt perfectly OK.

Apart from the machines used by the Police, there is no accurate way of measuring the alcohol content in your body, and the over the counter devices you can buy in the chemists are horrendously inaccurate.

As a drink driver, if you are caught, you are looking at a minimum of 12 months disqualification, and the higher the reading the longer the ban. Bear in mind not only will your insurance premiums be exceptionally high when you get your licence back (if you can find someone to insure you), the offence must be disclosed to potential insurers and new employers for 10 years after you get your licence back.

additionally, drink driving is no longer a defence to causing death by dangerous driving as it was a few years ago. If someone dies as a result of a drink driver, then both offences will be made to stick and you will without doubt be looking at a custodial sentence.

As a passenger, if you get into a car being driven by a drink driver, and they crash causing you injury, even though you may not have suspected them of being over the limit, at best your compensation will be seriously reduced, at worst you will get nothing at all.

If you are going out over the holiday and it is your intention to drive and ride, then think about the zero option, or, make sure that you are not tempted to get in the car or on the bike.

So on that note, I wish you all a merry Christmas, but remember, your licence is for life (well until 70 anyway ) not just for Christmas.
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[Crash it for fun]

Agreed! I get my licence back soon and I will not to lose it to drink driving again. There is a machine available over the internet from Austrailia which is pretty good as it recalibrates before each test. It does cost about £50 though but will be cheaper than the fine if you get caught and better than the ban a person would recieve. I want one

[Hex]

You can get a lot of morning after breath testers for less than £50. They are only an indication though.
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[Ste]

I've been looking at those breathalyzers you can buy. Without wanting for this thread to end up in a big drinking and driving arguement, has anyone used any of these. I would be looking at it as a way of judging the morning (or more likely afternoon) after if I am actually below the limit

[Milo]

Thanks for the information mate.
I remember last year at work i had a pint and a half at lunch so i'd be okay by the time i went home...then they only went and let us go an hour later didn't they! had to get the train home in the end. Grrr!

Adam
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Shaft drives rule.

[Evilbob]

i have always wondered ( probably should know ) but what about bike passengers whats the rule for them would they be tested.

wouldn't take a drunk passenger but just interested.
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my karma is dieing not fair who cares about spelling? i get the point across, most of the time

[T.C]

[XJ Dave]

Yeah....good point......but I can't see what real difference it would make as unlike with cars.....you are reliant upon having a competent person next to you if you are driving on L plates.....

[Crash it for fun]

[Zimma]

[T.C]

[XJ Dave]

Absolutely 100% T.C.

Is it still the case these days that someone with a full license can ride as pillion on a L plate....(sorry...showing my age now)...if this is the case.....then I guess they would be classed as "competent supervision" and they rules mmust apply....

[T.C]

[Kris]

I read somewhere (I'll try and find it - I promise) that "a small bit of alchohol makes most people slightly better drivers." By 'better' they meant less hesitant, more confident etc.

So I guess I'll be driving to the Crimbo party then
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[Ste]

[Kris]

[andrew]

You could give me a lift as well as T.C if you like Kris?

I read somewhere that drinking makes you stronger to so we wont need to wear lids or gloves! hehe

It is just common sense isnt it?

[MarJay]

Well if you don't like the drink ride laws, don't drink.
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[Jimmythe1]

Ay, drinking and riding shouldn't happen.

I'll usually have a pint or two and drive home in the car, but thats cause I live twenty odd miles from the pub, and well I'd be Jimmy no friends if I didn't.

But saying that,,,, I don't actually have a car anymore for that very reason so that should prove T.C's point, really.

You can get away with all sorts of stuff in Cornwall its great. But don't go taking short cuts across the beach, if anybody's wondering, cars and sand, sea, surf and rocks don't mix either. Makes for a pretty amusing evening though.
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[Danny]

[Kickstart@Work]

[T.C]

[Ste]

Do you have any experience/ advice on the £50ish home breathlyzers you can buy?

[Bendy]

If you're in doubt as to whether you should be riding, to the point that you want to breathalyze yourself, I think you shouldn't be riding.

My 2p... just don't drink and drive. Limits are a heap of bollocks, stick to one or the other.

[T.C]