The Morning After: Why It Can Be Dangerous To Drive The Day After A Night Out
20% of British drivers have admitted to driving the morning after a night of heavy drinking, despite still being intoxicated with alcohol.
According to a survey by road safety charity, Brake, many motorists believe that if they’ve had some sleep following their drinking session, they’ll be alright to drive afterwards. However, in reality, many of these drivers may still be over the alcohol limit when they get behind the wheel.
With drink drivers causing an estimated 240 deaths and more than 8,000 casualties a year it’s crucial that you ensure all alcohol has left your system before driving.
How quickly is alcohol removed from the body?
Alcohol is removed from the blood at approximately one unit per hour, but this can vary from person to person. The speed in which your body processes alcohol can depend on a multitude of factors including your size, sex, age, metabolism, how much food you’ve eaten and the health of your liver. If you’re taking medication, this may also have an impact.
How can I speed up the process so I can drive sooner?
From drinking lots of water to eating a big greasy breakfast, most people have tricks up their sleeves to ‘sober up’. However, while these tactics may make you feel less drunk, they don’t actually speed up the time in which it takes for alcohol to leave the body. Unfortunately, it’s simply a case of being patient and waiting it out until the alcohol is gone.
How many units does a drink contain?
The number of units in an alcoholic drink can vary depending on the type of alcohol, the size, and the brand. The following list from the NHS can serve as a rough guide:
● 175ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) – 2.1 units
● 250ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) – 3 units
● One pint of low-strength lager, beer or cider (3.6%) – 2 units
● One pint of high-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%) – 3 units
● One single measure of spirits – 1 unit
What should I do if caught drink driving?
Being convicted of driving with excess alcohol can result in you being disqualified from driving. Just think how often you use and rely on your car whether for work, to drop the kids at school or look after relatives. A disqualification from driving is likely to have a devastating impact on your work and home life which is why you need immediate advice from an expert who specialises in these complicated areas of law.
For more information on drink driving, the law and possible consequences and defences see here.
To speak to one of our experienced driving offence solicitors, please get in touch. We’re available around the clock so you can rest assured we’ll be on hand when you need us.
