One alcoholic drink will affect your ability to drive.
In the last three years there have been 676 crashes on Kent’s roads where a driver was above the legal alcohol limit, resulting in more than 1,000 people being injured – 21 fatally.
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease and pubs reopen, Kent County Council is highlighting the consequences of drinking and driving.
It can lead to a driving ban and a prison sentence, with consequences beyond that from fines, points on your licence and increased insurance premiums, to losing your job.
Act responsibly this summer and please do not drink and drive
Kent County Council Road Safety Team Leader Vicky Harvey said: “This year’s summer drink-drive campaign is not just about people going to pubs and driving home.
“With the coronavirus pandemic there’s many more of us going for drinks at friends and family’s gardens or meeting up in a park and we want people to realise that just one drink can increase the chances of having a crash, sometimes with tragic consequences.
“With increased opportunities to drink over the summer, we know that drink driving incidents increase between June to August. A drink driver can cause a serious crash and change yours and someone else’s life forever.
“Act responsibly this summer and please do not drink and drive. It’s not just those above the limit that are at risk as you don’t have to be drunk to be dangerous; so is one drink worth the risk?”
One drink will affect your ability to drive safely as small amounts of alcohol affect drivers’ reaction times, judgement and coordination.
Drink drivers don’t just injure themselves; a collision last year caused by a drink driver resulted in nine casualties and over the last three years 341 more people were injured than the number of crashes because of drink driving.
Three-quarters of those found to be over the limit were male, with most aged between 25 and 40.
Just one drink can have a devastating impact
Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services Cllr Phil Filmer said: “We are all enjoying the easing of restrictions and being able to meet up with our friends and family safely but there is never an excuse for drink driving. Just one drink can have a devastating impact on a number of people’s lives. I would encourage residents to act responsibly and help us reduce the number of incidents on our roads. One drink is simply not worth the risk.”
There is no excuse for driving under the influence
Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pepper said: “Now that lockdown restrictions are being lifted, we understand that everyone wants to go out and enjoy themselves. However, we ask that people to do so responsibly and to make arrangements to get home safely. Drivers who drink alcohol or take drugs before getting behind the wheel are not only risking their own life, but the lives of their passengers as well as other innocent motorists or pedestrians.
“As always our message remains the same – there is no excuse for driving under the influence.”
Please, help us to keep our roads safer
Area Manager for Customer Safety at Kent Fire and Rescue Service Colin King said: “Everyone knows it is against the law to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs – it’s as simple as that.
“Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs will impair your judgement when you’re driving, which could result in a serious road crash with devastating and life-changing consequences. If you saw what our crews have to see at these incidents, you would think twice about getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
“Please, help us to keep our roads safer and don’t drive if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”