It has been a difficult two years and with Christmas being cancelled last year and  like many people across the UK you will want to make up for it this year by celebrating with family and friends. Nights out with work, drinks with friends and family get togethers’ often involve alcohol and far too often, people being arrested for driving whilst over the limit and sometimes being involved in fatal accidents.

The drink drive limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. It is difficult to know what this equates to, the strength of your drink, your height, size, what you have eaten and many other factors impact how alcohol is processed by your body. We want you to enjoy the festive season and don’t want you to start the New Year with a driving ban or worse an injury.

4,761 drink-drivers were caught in December 2018 – equivalent to 154 per day and the numbers are increasing. A surprising amount of drivers (46% of drink driving cases polled) were caught the following day when they thought the alcohol had left their system. Remember, although you may have slept, alcohol detection tests can measure alcohol in the blood for up to 6 hours, on the breath for 12 to 24 hours, urine for 12 to 24 hours.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the drink driving alcohol limit for drivers is:

  • 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (the ‘blood limit’)
  • 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath (the ‘breath limit’)
  • 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine (the ‘urine limit’)

It is difficult to know what this equates to, so as Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said “Ultimately, jumping behind the wheel after a drink is putting yourself and other road users at risk. Not only this, but it can land you with a fine or driving ban. If you’re drinking, don’t drive. If you’re driving, don’t drink.”

We don’t want you to drink and drive, we would rather you got a taxi. If we can assist you with a motoring enquiry then call Paul Robinson Solicitors to speak to our specialist team who will be happy to advise you. We can assist at both the police station and at Court at short notice. You shouldn’t delay taking a breathalyser test in the police station to obtain advice as that could lead to a further charge of failing to provide a specimen. We can advise you after the test at the station. You are entitled to free independent legal advice at the police station. Call us on  01702 662963 (Essex)  020 35537115 (London). We are available 24 hours a day (out of hours number: 01702 662957)