In the UK there are very strict rules in place for driving while intoxicated and with good cause, there are 3000 people killed or seriously injured relating to drink driving offences each year, this means 1 in 6 people who are involved in a fatal accident in England are over the the limit.
The current legal limits in the UK are as follows.
- 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres in breath
- 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres in urine
- 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres in blood
Depending on your body type these results can change by a large amount, for example most people going by the limits above should be ok to have one drink, say a pint or a small glass of wine. You will probably not know your body well enough to say you can have more and still be under, you may even need to drink less to make sure you are ok. If this situation arises it is best to do one of two things, don’t drink at all or invest in a breathalyzer, an accurate one, not the £6 Christmas stocking filler, which are unreliable at best. Have a look below at the breathalyzer that will give you an accurate reading before you set foot in a car.
It is wise to heed the warnings before you decide to chance it after a few drinks there is a maximum 6 month prison sentence and £5000 fine attached to drink driving and the mark will stay on your license for 11 years. Imagine what the insurance companies will do when they see that, your premiums will sky rocket!
I have already been pulled on drink driving what do I do??
In these circumstances I would seek professional advice from a specialist motoring lawyer. Make sure it is a specialist in this area and not a general lawyer, as it is a very complicated area of law. They should be a reputable company who will assess your case for free and make you aware of what your chances are and whether you have any chance of winning. You could attempt to defend yourself but with a 6 month prison sentence and a £5000 fine there is a lot at stake, not to mention the cumulative effects of raised insurance premiums for the next 11 years, which will probably cost you more than the actual fine.