young motorists are more willing to risk drink driving than
older drivers
A survey of motorists aged between 17 and 24 has revealed that
almost 30% are willing to risk driving
after drinking.
A worrying 29% of young drivers interviewed by
the road safety charity Brake and the insurance company Direct Line
said they would be prepared to drive after consuming alcohol.
The survey also suggested that 53% of drivers
aged between 17 and 24 were prepared to drive the morning after
drinking alcohol. This is an increase from the 45% figure in
the equivalent survey in 2007.
According to the 2011 survey, 62% of drivers
interviewed understood that one unit of alcohol would still affect
driving, but worryingly as many as 12% believed they could consume
three or more units and still drive safely.
Blake Lapthorn's Motoring Offences team would
like to reiterate the views of both Brake and Direct Line that the
best thing to do if drinking is to avoid driving altogether.
It is notoriously difficult to accurately
calculate the number of units of alcohol consumed during the course
of an evening and it is even more difficult to calculate whether
one is over the drink drive limit. Even a modest intake of
alcohol can affect driving; by impairing senses and reducing
reaction times for example. The safest thing to do is to
avoid driving altogether where drinking alcohol is
contemplated.
Police forces are making great efforts to
remind drivers, young and old, about the dangers of drink driving
and the penalties that will follow in the event of a conviction.
The penalties are serious in that a conviction for the
offence will lead to either a fine, a community penalty or in the
most serious cases a prison sentence. The motorist will also
be disqualified for at least 12 months and that period could well
be for longer. The firm's Motoring Offences team has
represented dozens of motorists who have faced the grim prospect of
losing their job following the mandatory driving
disqualification.
The offence also leads to the motorist getting
a criminal record. For all these reasons a conviction for
drink driving really is the last thing you want to receive, whether
it is at Christmas or any other time.
