Drink, Drugs & Distraction
Drinking & Driving
Since the breathalyser was introduced in 1968, the number of
road deaths due to drinking and driving have declined considerably.
However, a stubborn core of drink drivers remains responsible for
around 500 deaths per year.
Bath & North East Somerset Council fully supports the
Government's drinking and driving campaigns and also the work of
the Bath Alcohol Forum in promoting sensible drinking.
APE Theatre Company's touring play, "Too Much Punch for Judy",
based on a real life drink driving tragedy, has been performed in
most of the area's secondary schools over the last few years.
Have None for the Road
Many drivers still misjudge the amount of alcohol they can drink
without being over the limit. Calculations can be hazardous,
especially where a heavy nights drinking leaves you with a high
blood alcohol level, as well as tiredness, the following
morning.
The best advice, therefore, is not to drink any alcohol
before driving.
For more information on Drink Driving, please click
here.
Drugs and Fatigue
Two other sources of driver impairment are drugs and fatigue.
Police calculate that 20% of all motorway crashes are due to
drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
Taking sensible measures, such as taking a short break if
driving for more than two hours, or as soon as you feel drowsy, can
make all the difference.
Drugs, both legal and illegal, can impair a driver's alertness.
Many medicines carry warnings, while GP's and pharmacists can
advise on the potential effects of prescribed drugs on driving.
Drugs can have unpredictable effects and may lead to problems
such as:
-
Slower reaction times when driving
-
Altered perceptions of distance and time
-
Blurred or distorted vision
Illegal drugs will vary in their impact on driving ability
according to type, strength and quality. The effects may be hard to
monitor or predict so, as with drinking and driving, the safest
advice is - don't.
If you drive after taking drugs you may not only be putting
yourself and others in danger - but you also stand the chance of
prosecution and losing your licence.
