Fancy a quick pint after work in the sun? Think twice before driving home…

Drink driving is a common occurrence throughout the year, but statistics show that it is at its highest at during the summer months. With the promise that we will experience a hot summer this year, the longer evenings may tempt more people into the bars for a thirst quenching pint, glass of wine or the ever popular jug of Pimms after work but that doesn’t mean we have to drive home. If you’ve had a drink, use public transport or take a taxi - otherwise that quick pint might cost you your licence, or worst still cause a fatal accident.

Latest research has shown there were nearly 15,000 victims of drink driving offences in one year. If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash than a driver who hasn’t been drinking.

The penalties for drink driving are a fine, and a statutory minimum period of disqualification of 12 months. The size of the fines and the maximum length of period of disqualification depend on the seriousness of the offence, mainly the amount by which the driver is over the legal limit. The normal fine for a basic drink drive offence is between £400 and £450.

Jeanette Miller, President of AMOL (Association of Motor Offence Lawyers) comments: “Many people who face prosecution are only marginally over the limit and when they make contact with us they stress that they are against drink driving. We regularly work with people to limit the damage a conviction may cause but our fees cost far more than most taxi journeys that could have been taken to avoid arrest in the first place.”

Jeanette Miller warns that even though the Government outlines legal alcohol limits, any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive as each individual person’s tolerance levels vary dependant upon a range of factors including: Weight, gender, age, metabolism, current stress levels, whether they have eaten recently and amount of alcohol.

As a legal professional and Senior Partner of Geoffrey Miller Solicitors, Jeanette is at the front line of drink driving cases on a daily basis. She advises that if you plan to drive, do not drink as in her experience; there is no ‘safe’ alcohol limit. More information can be found at www.amol.uk.com.

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Natalie Whitlock

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Full Portion Media

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