DRIVERS are now at risk of being fined up to £2,500 just for standing next to their cars on Christmas.
Being over the limit simply in the vicinity of your vehicle can also see you thrown behind bars for three months.
Drivers could be fined £2,500 for just standing next to their cars while drunk
In England, drink-driving refers to “being in control of a motor vehicle”.
So if someone is drunk and is standing next to a car, by law it is entirely possible to charge the person without ever having been behind the wheel, if the intention to drive can be proven.
Key indicators of an intention to drive are being near your vehicle, being inside but not in the driving seat, and having the keys in the ignition.
Clare Freemantle, Sales and Marketing Director at Harwoods Group, explains it further.
She says: “Around the Christmas season, there’s a heightened risk for anyone who is planning to drink, whether going to visit friends or celebrating at their work Christmas party. By simply standing next to your car, you could be charged with drunk driving.
“English law stipulates that you can be charged with drunk driving, even if you’re not behind the wheel of a car.
“If the police believe you have the intention to drive, and that could be by standing next to your car intoxicated, you could be opening yourself up to a fine.
“If you are seen as guilty of having the intention to drive, you could end up with up to three months imprisonment, a fine of £2,500 and a possible driving ban.
“Intention can simply be standing next to your car, or having an appointment booked which could prove intention to drive.
“If you do end up driving or attempt to drive while under the influence of alcohol, you could be imprisoned for six months, given unlimited fines and receive a driving ban of at least one year.”
How many units of alcohol can you have before driving?
The drink drive limit in the UK is measured in milligrams rather than units.
The limit is 80 milligrams for every 100 millilitres.
Body mass, gender and how quickly your body absorbs alcohol are major factors on how each individual is impacted by drinking.
Generally speaking, two pints of beer or two small glasses of wine is enough to put you over the legal limit.
The stronger your drink the longer it takes to leave your system so a large glass of wine (250ml) could be in your blood for four hours after.
While a pint might take less time to leave your system – two hours instead of four – you still need to factor in an hour for it to absorb into your body.
All that maths means if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you would not be safe to drive until 9am.
If you treat yourself to a bottle of wine, you shouldn’t drive until 1pm the next day to be safe.
WHAT IS THE DRINK DRIVING LIMIT?
WHILE the drink-drive limit is the same for everyone, how it influences you behind the wheel changes
There’s no foolproof system where you can safely have one pint or one large glass of wine and definitely be under the limit.
As a general guide it takes around two hours for a pint to leave your system although stronger beers and ciders will take longer.
A large glass of wine (250ml) is still in the blood for four hours and a single measure of a spirit takes just one hour.
Plus you’ll need to add on an hour for the alcohol to be absorbed into the system. So, if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you’re not safe to drive until at least 9am – a bottle of wine and you have to wait until 1pm the next day.
These numbers vary from driver to driver, too, depending on a number of factors including weight, age, sex and metabolism. When and how much you’ve eaten and stress levels at the time are all part of the equation, too.
The easiest way to avoid being caught out and to ensure you’re safe behind the wheel is not to drink at all if you’re planning on driving and give yourself plenty of time the next day before setting off
The easiest way to avoid being caught out and to ensure you’re safe behind the wheel is not to drink at all if you’re planning on driving and give yourself plenty of time the next day before setting off.
How can alcohol affect driving?
Your ability to drive safely with alcohol in your system is impaired as:
The brain takes longer to receive messages from the eye
Processing information becomes more difficult
Instructions to the body’s muscles are delayed resulting in slower reaction times
Blurred and double vision affects your ability to see things clearly while driving
You are more likely to take potentially dangerous risks because you act on urges you normally repress
Remember, you will have all or some of these impairments, not just one.
All of these effects combined can result in dangerous driving