If you live in Kent, you will get the message this Christmas that Drinking and Driving Wrecks lives. Whether you're going for a walk, driving around the county, or just sitting at home watching the TV - you will encounter very powerful, thought provoking commercials asking you to consider the impact of drinking and driving.

If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.  Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.

So the only safe option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive, and never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is intending to drive. 

Coffee and cold showers the morning after a night out don't help you sober up. Time is the only way to get the alcohol out of your system and you could still be over the legal limit many hours after drinking including the morning after.

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs = 14 years' imprisonment, together with an unlimited fine, disqualification from driving for at least 2 years and a mandatory extended driving test.

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink = 6 months' imprisonment, together with a fine of up to £5,000 and disqualification from driving for at least 12 months (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years).

Being in charge of a vehicle whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink = 3 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £2,500 and discretionary disqualification from driving.

DRINKING AND DRIVING WRECKS LIVES