Driving with a hangover could land you with a hefty fine or six months in prison
MOTORISTS know drink-driving is illegal – but you might not realise that getting behind the wheel the day after a big night out could also get you in trouble.
Driving while hungover could get you a fine, points on your licence and even up to six months in prison, motorists are being warned this Christmas.
More than a third of UK drivers surveyed said they thought drinking water, getting some sleep and eating a big meal was enough to get them safely back on the road the morning after a big night.
But this is not the case.
It takes the body one hour to break down one alcoholic unit on average, meaning that four large glasses of wine could take 12 hours to leave your system.
That’s regardless of the food you eat or sleep you get.
In fact, a number of different things affect how alcohol is absorbed in your body including your height, weight and stress levels.
That means measuring the suitable drink-drive limit solely in terms of alcoholic units is neither safe or accurate as one unit will affect each person differently.
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The current drink drive limit in England, according to the government is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.
The limits are lower in Scotland.
Even small amounts of alcohol in the body can impair your vision, judgement and reaction times, increasing the chances of an accident or collision.
The government is very clear about the implications of driving hungover.
The penalties include:
- a minimum 12 month driving ban
- a criminal record
- a £2,500 fine
- up to 6 months in prison
- an endorsement on your licence for 11 years
Want to know more about how much is too much? We’ve got you covered:
How can I avoid driving hungover?
Plan ahead
The best way to avoid these penalties is to avoid driving the day after a night of drinking entirely.
To do this make sure you plan your necessary journeys ahead of time.
People often forget to consider their journey to work the morning after they’ve had a drink, meaning they have no other way to commute but drive.
But no matter how scary your boss is, this excuse won’t get you off the hook with the police for driving while under the influence.
If you’ve left the car at the pub, remember you can return to collect the car at a later date if worse comes to worst.
Don’t drink at all
If there’s no viable route to get to work or travel home the day after, then stick to alcohol-free bevs.
Alcohol-free choices are becoming increasingly popular and give people an opportunity to feel included in the fun.
We’ve looked at the best alcohol-free tipples on the market.
They’re just as tasty and often cheaper making it a win-win solution.
Avoid peer-pressure
Know your limit no matter how many free shots are offered to you at the work-do or New Year’s Eve party.
Stick to your maximum amount and not a sip more.
It won’t be them facing the consequences – it will be you.
Buy a single-use breathalyser
For just £3, Halfords sells single-use breathalysers for drivers who want to double check they’re within the limit before setting off.
If you know you’re going out, keep a couple in the glove box of your car so you always have them to hand.
It’s a small price to pay compared to the six month prison sentence, the hefty fine and inflated insurance policy prices.