|
One in six road deaths is caused by drink
drivers.
Despite all the publicity, all the campaigns, all the deaths;
people still drink and drive.
So here's a question: what is a drink
driver?
We often think of a 'drink driver' as a very drunk person, not a
careful social drinker: someone who has drunk so much alcohol that
they can hardly stand, let alone get behind a wheel.
But the truth is that a drink driver is anyone who is over the
legal alcohol limit for driving. No matter how little they may be
over that limit, or how careful they think they are.
A drink driver is very often someone who thinks they'll be
'alright' with just another pint or even a half-pint. Or the
morning after.
How much is too much?
The alcohol limit is there for a reason. It's because the risk
of being involved in a crash is dramatically bigger, the more
alcohol you drink. And even a very small amount of alcohol affects
our driving skills - slows down reaction times, gives false
confidence and reduces concentration.
It also makes us take risks we wouldn't normally take, even if
we don't realise it.
Is drink driving really a problem?
Just look at the facts:
- one in six road deaths is caused by drivers over the drink
drive limit
- every day around 250 drivers fail a breath test
- the risk of being involved in a crash increases rapidly with
the amount of alcohol drunk
- even small amounts of alcohol will affect your
ability to judge distance and speed, and will slow your reaction
time
How will I know when I've reached the limit?
You won't, so don't try to guess whether you're alright to drive
or not. If you're guessing, then you're gambling with your licence,
your life and the lives of other people.
It's far better to avoid drinking at all. Or don't use the
car.
What can I do to avoid a drink driving problem?
Rather than gambling with lives, pick any one of the simple ways
you can easily avoid a drink driving problem:
- stick to non alcoholic and soft drinks if you are the
driver
- if someone else is driving, make sure they stick to soft
drinks
- never offer an alcoholic drink to a driver
- arrange for someone who is not drinking to drive
- take a taxi
- use public transport
- stay overnight
What is Kent County Council doing to tackle the problem?
Kent County Council's Road Safety Officers discuss these issues
on the young driver courses delivered in secondary schools. We also
support and help promote national campaigns.
You can find further information on alcohol and the effects on
driving at:
(The following links all open in new windows.)
|