Motorists may be interested to read that, back in October 2018, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) published a Drinking and Driving Factsheet that provided some concerning statistics. We thought we would mention some of the figures as these will no doubt give people food for thought.
Each year, in excess of 70,000 motorists are caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Back in 2016, there were in excess of 9,000 people injured due to accidents relating to drinking and driving. In the same year, 230 people were killed in such accidents.
In 2016, 390 passengers in cars and 100 pedestrians were seriously injured or killed by people driving under the influence of alcohol. These were innocent people who just happened to be caught up in road traffic accidents involving drink drivers.
So, if you are caught driving whilst over the legal alcoholic limit, what are the potential consequences? Well, the penalties vary but, quite rightly, are severe.
If you are in charge of a vehicle and unfit to drive it due to the amount you have drunk or are over the legal limit then you could be fined as much as £2,500, be banned possibly from driving and go to prison for up to 3 months.
If you try to drive a vehicle or are caught driving whilst being unfit to do so due to drinking too much or are above the legal limit then you could be fined an unlimited amount, go to prison for up to 6 months and be banned from driving for a minimum of one year or, if you have been convicted two times in the last 10 years be banned for a minimum of 3 years.
If you refused to provide a urine, blood or breath test to be analysed then you could be fined an unlimited amount, be imprisoned for up to 6 months and be banned from driving a vehicle for a minimum of one year.
If you are carelessly driving whilst being under the influence of alcohol and cause the death of someone then you could receive an unlimited fine, go to prison for up to 14 years, be banned from driving for a minimum of 2 years and, before you get your driving license back, need to pass an extended driving test.
Being convicted of a drink driving offence will also make it more difficult to obtain motor insurance with fewer insurance companies being prepared to consider providing cover and, those that will, charging you a higher premium.
