Driving While Being Over the Limit

Most people know about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol and also know that it is against the law. Alcohol impairs reaction time and slows down responses, making it difficult to operate a car to an adequate standard. Over the years the governments have spent a lot of money on public awareness campaigns to educate people about the perils of drink driving, yet every year hundreds of motorists get prosecuted for this crime.

According to the law it is an offence to drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle on public land if the alcohol levels in your body exceed the legal limits. The police can stop motorists who they believe may have consumed alcohol and request a breath test at the side of the road. In addition a breath test can be administered to drivers at the scene of an accident or if a moving motoring offence has been committed, such as failing to observe a stop light or speeding. Body alcohol levels can also be tested through urine or blood samples, which can be taken at a hospital or a police station.

The current legal limit of alcohol allowed in the body is 35 micrograms per 100 milliliters of breath, or 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, or 107 milligrams per 100 milliliters of urine. If the levels are found to be higher than this then the police can prosecute the driver for drink driving. It is important to know that even if blood alcohol levels are not above the legal level, drivers can still be deemed to be unfit to drive if they are driving erratically or in a manner which could cause an accident. Motorists can also commit an offence if they refuse to give a breath sample when the police stop them on the roadside.

If the case goes to court and the driver’s reasons for not wanting to give the sample are not accepted then the driver could be charged with drink driving. The penalties for being convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol vary and depend on the severity of the situation. More severe penalties are issued for drink driving that result in serious accidents or death on the roads than for minor infringements. In most cases the motorist will face a fine and disqualification from driving as well as invalidating their motor insurance. Some cases could result in a sentence of community service or even imprisonment.

Most drink driving incidents happen after a night out, when people don’t realise how much they have had to drink, therefore it is always wise to consider nominating a designated driver or using public transport in order to avoid this situation and to make sure that everyone gets home safely. Drink driving is a very serious problem and it is the responsibility of all motorists on the road to ensure they don’t commit this crime and they are fit to be on the drive.

Author: Lee Sibbald, June 3rd, 2010
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