14/12/2011 - Permalink

Remember the morning after – will you still be over the limit?

Related topics: Community

Shropshire Council’s road safety education team is reminding motorists to avoid driving the morning after they have been out drinking. 

As part of the ‘Over the Limit – you don’t have to be drunk to be a drink driver’ campaign, the team are reminding drivers to be aware of the length of time that alcohol can remain in the body.  Since the campaign was launched on 1 December 2011, 69 people across West Mercia have been arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs. 

Research shows that alcohol can only be released from the body at a set rate; one pub measure per hour is a very rough guide. 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for responsible for public protection, said:

“If you are taking in more alcohol than your body is getting rid of alcohol levels will build up, and once you have stopped drinking it may take a long time for the alcohol to clear your system.  The result is that you could easily be over the limit the following day, and are more likely to cause an accident in which someone is hurt. 

“Shropshire Council’s road safety education team deliver a comprehensive road safety education programme to all road users to increase road user behaviour and to reduce road casualties on Shropshire’s roads.  We want our residents to enjoy Christmas safely, but really do urge people not to drink and drive.”

The road safety education team have come up with some useful tips including: 

  • Remember to plan your travel for the following day, not just to and from the party 
  • If you are drinking alcohol the night before try and remember 
  • The smart choice: count the hours from when you finish your last drink to know when you’ll be alcohol-free and safe to drive. 

The ‘Over the Limit – you don’t have to be drunk to be a drink driver’ initiative is being supported by Shropshire’s Road Safety Partnership.  Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years, 38 people lost their lives and 172 were seriously injured in West Mercia following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor. 

One in six drink-drivers are caught the morning after drinking, so it’s important to know how long different drinks stay in your system. 

For more information about the campaign and the work of the council’s road safety education team call 01743 254963.