Getting into the driver’s seat the morning after drinking could have serious consequences.
If you have consumed any alcohol, the safest bet is not to drive — but during the summer festival period especially, many people risk being over the drink-drive limit.
Risks of driving the morning after drinking
The annual drink drive campaign, led by the Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership, was in operation this week for the start of the Isle of Wight Festival, aiming to make people aware of the risk of driving the morning after drinking.
The partnership is a multi-agency collaboration between Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight councils as well as the police, the fire service and National Highways.
‘Morning After calculator’
A number of awareness events have taken place at Lymington, Portsmouth and Southampton ferry ports as well as Newport Fire Station promoting the ‘Morning After calculator’.
The online calculator helps users work out how long it takes for alcohol to pass through their body and when it will be safe to drive the morning after.
Campbell: Enables you to calculate roughly when it will be safe for you to drive the morning after
Lewis Campbell, the Isle of Wight Council’s road safety officer, said,
“This calculator is not intended to help you work out how much you can drink on a night out before driving home.
“If you are drinking any amount of alcohol on a night out – even one drink – you should leave the car at home and make alternative arrangements. And the calculator won’t help you if you are arrested for drink driving.
“What it will do is enable you to calculate roughly when it will be safe for you to drive the morning after drinking alcohol. And it can help you calculate when to stop drinking alcohol if you have to drive the following morning.”
Drink driving is a very serious criminal offence and motorists can be fined, banned from driving and even face jail depending on the seriousness of the offence.
Sitting or sleeping in a car while intoxicated and with keys in the ignition
And you don’t have to be caught in a moving car to be hit with a penalty – a motorist caught sitting or sleeping in a car while intoxicated and with keys in the ignition could be hit with a £2,500 fine, up to three months in prison and a possible driving ban.
You can find out more about the drink driving penalties here.
Lines: We want everyone to get home safely
Dave Lines, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, said,
“We want everyone attending this weekend’s Isle of Wight Festival to have a fantastic time and get home safely.
“That’s why we’re working with our Hampshire and Isle of Wight partners to help drivers and riders make good decisions about when they need to stop drinking alcohol, to make sure they are safely below the limit when they drive home.”
Evans: Safety of our customers and workforce our highest priority
Colin Evans, National Highways regional safety programme manager, added,
“At National Highways the safety of our customers and our workforce is our highest priority.
“We are proud to work with partners from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to help drivers and riders make good decisions about when they need to stop drinking the night before they drive home after a big event like the Isle of Wight Festival in order to be safely below the limit.
“While we want them to have a great time, we also want everyone to get home safe and well.”
For more information on the Morning After calculator can be found on the Website.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
