CHRISTMAS IS COMING - SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND YOU ALL OF THE PERILS OF DRINK DRIVING
11 PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY DRINK DRIVERS ON *UK* ROADS EVERY WEEK.
I think the best place to start an article on this subject is to establish how dangerous driving is. The reality is that we are all very relaxed about the perils ad dangers of driving, we all fall into the trap of feeling we are close to invulnerable as we sit cocooned in our warm comfortable metal boxes!
The following statistics may make you reconsider;
Probability of being killed
- North Sea Diver 1:1,000
- Miner 1:7,000
- Construction Worker 1:10,000
- Driving 12,000 business miles p.a. 1:8,000
- Driving 25,000 business miles p.a. 1:1,250
- Driving 30,000 business miles p.a. 1:200
Clearly there are a number of factors that skew these figures and statistics can be used to prove almost anything, but … even taking all of this into account I am sure you will agree that Driving on business is a surprisingly hazardous occupation.
Given the very real dangers of driving, there is no real option other than to say, that you should not drive with any level of alcohol in your system.
The effects of alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant drug and even small amounts of alcohol (such as half a pint of lager) affect drivers’ reaction times, judgment and co-ordination. Alcohol also makes it impossible for drivers to assess their own impairment because it creates a false sense of confidence and means drivers are more inclined to take risks and believe they are in control when they are not.
It is also impossible to calculate how much alcohol you have in your blood (even if you know exactly how much you have consumed), or how long it will stay in your system. The speed at which alcohol is absorbed into your system (and how quickly your system gets rid of it) depends on a large number of factors, including your sex, weight, metabolism, health, how much you drank, how long you have been drinking for, how much and good a sleep you had, and when and what you last ate.
There’s no way of knowing exactly how long it takes to sober up completely after drinking, but it’s probably longer than you think. For example, if you finish your fourth pint of normal strength beer at 11pm, you probably won’t be sober until 10am the next day. But it could take much longer.
Drinking coffee, eating, sleeping and showering don’t make you sober up any faster. It just takes time.
The fight against drink-driving goes on
Drink-drive casualties (deaths, serious injuries and minor injuries) decreased significantly during the 1980s, but rose by nearly a third between 1993 and 2002 (from 14,980 to 20,140). Drink-drive deaths account for one in six road deaths.
These Government statistics only include casualties caused by drivers over the drink-drive limit, yet many more drink-drive crashes are caused by drivers who only have small amounts of alcohol in their blood. Drivers who are under the drink-drive limit, but who have a significant amount of alcohol in their blood cause an estimated 80 road deaths per year.
The risks
Drink-driving puts both drivers and other road users at risk. Of the 20,060 people killed or injured in drink-drive crashes in 2002 there were:
740 pedestrians, including 120 children;
140 cyclists, including 40 children;
6,930 car passengers, including 850 children;
720 passengers in other vehicles, including 40 children;
plus many drivers and motorcyclists who had not been drinking themselves but were hit by drink-drivers.
At twice the legal limit, drivers are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
The law - the drink-drive limit
The current drink-drive limit in the UK is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, significantly higher than the majority of EU countries (the EC recommends a limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood or less). Research shows that a driver’s judgement and motor skills are affected when they are still well below the legal alcohol limit.
An estimated 80 people die each year in crashes caused by drivers who are impaired by alcohol but who are under the limit.
Charges and penalties
If a driver is found to be either over the drink-drive limit, and/or driving while impaired by alcohol, they can receive a maximum penalty of six months in prison and an unlimited fine. Anyone convicted must also receive a one-year disqualification. If a driver kills someone while under the influence of alcohol, they can be charged with death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of fourteen years in prison.
Please take this seriously in particular remember the “morning after ” issue
A self-testing kit if you must attempt to drive the next morning is a possible consideration, but how do you know whether the kit is anywhere near accurate or you have used it properly? Also what are you testing for, just are you legal to drive or are you safe to drive?
In simple terms the only effective solutions are
Don’t drink the night before.
Find other transport, or someone who has not been drinking to drive you
As a last resort be ultra cautious and set off much later the following day
I know this looks like the usual kill joy approach from the health and safety nannies, but if its a choice between a “Merry” Christmas or being arrested, banned, losing your job, injuring or killing someone, which would you honestly prefer?
I’m tempted to sign off “Bah humbug”, or as Scrooge, but that really isn’t what I’m aiming for, all I am saying is remember it takes a lot longer to get sober than you think, so consider alternatives to you driving if you have even had a half decent night out.
Simon Fabian Tech IOSH
Risk Advisor
Thanks to Cardinus and the Brake organisation for the statistics.
