This winter the PSNI are testing drivers ing Ballymena and throughout Northern Ireland. Police have revealed that last year 270 people were caught driving which over the acceptable legal limit, with the youngest offender aged 17 and the oldest was 71! At this time of the year lots of us are heading out to meet up with friends, family and work mates to celebrate the festive time of year. If you are planning to attend a christmas party be sure to plan ahead meaning you can enjoy yourself without becoming a danger to yourself and others on your way home.
You should never ever drink and drive. Just one drink could increase your risk of crashing.The consequences of drinking and driving are devastating. Drivers who consume alcohol before getting behind the wheel may kill or injure not only themselves, but also their passengers and other road users.
How does alcohol affect your driving?
Alcohol slows reactions and even very low amounts of alcohol will impair the skills needed for safe driving. It slows down the brain, impacting upon your judgement, reason, self control and reaction times. Drivers feel a false sense of confidence, lose their inhibitions and are more likely to take risks. Evidence shows that drivers who have been drinking tend to focus more on the most basic activities, such as steering, and less on other key driving skills. This increases their risk of crashing.
Plan ahead – if you are going out and you plan to take a drink or think you might be tempted to take a drink:
- book a taxi,
- arrange a lift
- designate a driver
- check out the public transport options
The morning after
It is important to remember that you may be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if you have slept all night.Sleep, breakfast, coffee or a cold shower will not sober you up – only time will reduce the alcohol in your body.
What are the penalties?
You are likely to face serious penalties if you are charged and found guilty of a drink driving offence in Northern Ireland. The actual penalty that you get depend on the circumstances and facts of your case which will all be taken into account by the District Judge who hears your case. (Source)
This Christmas please take care on the roads. Don’t drink and drive and be vigilant and carefully even if you are totally sober as you never know what you will meet around the next corner. Hopefully the roads of Ballymena will be mush safer as the PSNI carry out more drink drive tests.
