Drinking & Driving

• Alcohol reduces your co-ordination, slows your reactions and distorts judgement of speed. • It creates a false sense of confidence making you take risks and believe you’re in control. • 1 in 7 road deaths are caused by a drink driver over the legal limit. • 1 in 3 drivers who die have alcohol levels UNDER the legal limit. • Just half a pint affects your reaction times. • Drink driving carries an instant driving ban of at least 12 months and a fine of up to £5,000 and a possible prison sentence of up to 6 months. • An endorsement for drink driving stays on your licence for 11 years. • Causing a death by drink driving carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. • Male drivers between the age of 17 to 30 are most at risk. • Alcohol is an addictive drug that is also a depressant that slows down your brain. • At twice the drink drive limit you are 50 times more likely to be in a fatal crash. • In the UK, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml blood. ALCOHOL UNITS Red, White or Rose wine (ABV 13%) A small glass (125ml)       A standard glass (175ml)          A large glass (250ml)      A full (750ml) Bottle       Beer, Larger and Cider Regular ABV 4%           Strong ABV 5.2%                Extra Strong ABV 8%   Other drinks Single Spirit ABV 40%               275ml Alcopop ABV 5.5%                 1 unit          3 units FACT It takes ONE HOUR for your body to get rid of ONE UNIT of alcohol and NOTHING can speed that process up. This means that if you finish drinking five pints of normal strength 4% ABV beer (or the equivalent) at 11pm, then you will not be sober until at least 11am the next day.  Many drinks are stronger than you think and ONE pint of beer could put you over the legal drink drive limit. DRINKING AND DRIVING KILLS Gareth Evason 19 (pictured above) was killed as he was walking home from a pub one night.  Gareth was knocked down by a drink driver, he was thrown into a ditch, his neck was broken and he died.  The driver had been drinking at the same table as Gareth just minutes earlier - it was his best friend Mark Snewin 18.  Mark was two and a half times over the drink drive limit and was given a 4 year prison sentence.. DEATH OF AN INNOCENT I went to a party mum and I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink mum, so I drank soda instead. I felt so proud inside mum, the way you said I would. I didn’t drink and drive mum, even though the others said I should. I know I did the right thing mum, I know you are always right. Now the party is finally over mum, as everyone is driving out of sight. As I got into my car mum, I knew I’d get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet. I started to drive away mum, but as I pulled out into the road. The other car didn’t see me mum, and hit me like a load. As I lay on the pavement mum, I heard a policeman say. The other driver is drunk mum, I wish you’d get here soon. How could this happen to me mum? My life just burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me mum, and most of it is mine. I hear a medic tell you mum, I’ll die in a short time. I just wanted to tell you mum, I swear I didn’t drink. It was others mum, the others didn’t think. He was probably at the same party as I. The difference is, he drank and I will die. Why do people drink mum? It can ruin your whole life. I’m feeling sharp pains now, just like a knife. The driver who hit me is walking mum and I don’t thinks it is fair. I’m lying here dying and all he can do is stare. Tell my brother not to cry mum, tell daddy to be brave. And when I go to heaven mum, put daddy’s girl on my grave. Someone should have told him mum, not to drink and drive. If only they had told him mum, I would still be alive. My breath is getting shorter mum, I’m becoming very scared. Please don’t cry mum, when I needed you you were always there. I have one last question mum, before I say goodbye. I didn’t drink and drive mum, so why am I the one to die?   a useful link - http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/drink-driving It is all too easy to be dead drunk!

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