It’s also a time which could have serious implications for drivers, as Police across Yorkshire launch their annual crackdown on drink driving. The festive season will see officers taking part in random or targeted roadside stop-checks which will last until the end of the New Year celebrations.
More than half a million people are stopped and breathalysed each year with more breath tests carried out in December than any other month, according to statistics from the Department for Transport.
Jeremy Scott, partner and leading road traffic defence solicitor at Langleys in York: said: ”On average six people a year die in York and North Yorkshire because of drink driving, nearly 800 people have been seriously injured in the past five years. Sobering statistics.
“If you are stopped for drink driving you will be treated the same as anybody else suspected of committing a criminal offence. You will be arrested, taken to a police station, and face giving blood or urine samples. As well as being locked in a police cell you will be photographed, fingerprinted, and have DNA samples taken which will remain on the police database.”
The minimum sentence for drink driving is a 12–month driving ban, a criminal record and a large fine of up to £5,000. The maximum sentence is 6 months imprisonment. If your driving results in a death and you are found to be over the limit you could face a much longer prison sentence.
Jeremy added: “While some people would have no problem turning to public transport, for others who use their vehicles for work, a driving ban would mean losing a significant portion of their income, or even their job.
Once the ban ends, you’ve paid your fine and you can drive again, you will still face hugely increased costs, with insurance providers hesitant to take on convicted drink drivers.”
Drink Driving: The Facts:
What can I do to stay under the legal limit?
The current British legal limit for drivers is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.
Each person's tolerance to alcohol depends on a range of factors including:
- weight
- gender
- age
- metabolism
- current stress levels
- whether you have eaten recently
- amount and strength of alcohol
What about driving the morning after?
If you were lucky enough to be chauffeured or used taxis, then think twice before you get into your car next morning. As a general rule it takes your body one hour to eliminate one unit of alcohol, yet many overlook this fact. A bottle of wine can stay in the system for up to 13 hours.
The road safety charity ‘Brake’ reckons that after a heavy night's drinking, one in six drivers are still prepared to put themselves and others in danger by getting behind the wheel the following morning. Supporting these findings, Department for Transport statistics show that most failed breath tests happen between the hours of 7am and 9am.
Drink driving is not the only risk the morning after the night before. Even if you are under the limit, chances are if you had a late night, you're going to be tired. Don't risk driving as drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause seven deaths every week.
Do I need a solicitor if I am caught drink driving?
Yes. A solicitor can help you in a number of ways. He/she can advise you whether there might be a legal or technical challenge to the charges. The law can be extremely complex and often there are procedural requirements to be complied with before you can be prosecuted. These issues can be overlooked if you are not represented. Even if there is no defence available to you a solicitor can help persuade the Court to deal with you more leniently, or in such a way that the consequences of a conviction are much less than otherwise.