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THINK! warns drivers they may still be over the limit the morning after a “big night out” (21 December 2015)

Date: 21/12/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, THINK! warns drivers they may still be over the limit the morning after a “big night out”

The annual Christmas THINK! campaign to prevent drunk driving is warning drivers about the risks of driving the morning after a big night out.

New research from THINK! highlights the risks of driving the morning after a night of heavy drinking, with an estimated 740 drink drive accidents in 2013 taking place in the morning.

Around 5,500 people also fail a breath test in the morning each year – an average of 15 drivers every day – and 58% of people who drink four or more pints on a big night out admit to driving the morning afterwards, with only one in three of those aware that they could be over the limit from the night before.

Even though a drink driving conviction can lose drivers their jobs, the most common reason for getting behind the wheel after a heavy night of drinking is to get to work (37%).

Road Safety Minister Andrew Jones said:

“Getting behind the wheel after a big night out is a risk that drivers just should not take.

“Not only are they putting themselves in danger, they also endangering others and their actions can destroy lives.

“The safest way to make sure that your Christmas celebrations this year don’t end badly is to wait until you are sober before you think about driving,” he added.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead, Suzette Davenport, said:

“The majority of drivers are aware that driving while impaired by drink or drugs is not worth the risk – but some do not think about how they will get home or to work the morning after a night out.

“Thinking ahead about getting home or to work safely the following morning is crucial – and, potentially, if you are driving the morning after drinking, you may need alternative travel arrangements.

“Driving under the influence is never worth the risk to yourself, to your future and to those you could injure or kill.”

On average, it takes around one hour for the body to break down one unit of alcohol – meaning it could take as long as 12 hours for the alcohol from four pints of higher strength beer (or four large glasses of wine) to leave the body.

Research suggests drivers are unaware of the danger of still being over the limit the morning after a night of heavy drinking – with one-third (33%) of people surveyed mistakenly believing that drinking water would make them safe to drive –and 28% thinking that sleeping helped reduce the effects of alcohol.

A total of 21% believed eating a large meal made it safe to drive the morning, after a night of heavy drinking.

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