Don't drink and drive

If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.

Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.

Each person's tolerance to alcohol depends on a range of factors including:

• Weight
• Gender
• Age
• Metabolism
• Current stress levels
• Whether they have eaten recently
• Amount of alcohol

So the only safe option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive, and never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is intending to drive.

Drink driving statistics

• On average 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive collisions.
• Nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.
• Drinking and driving occurs across a wide range of age groups but particularly among young men aged 17 to 29 in both casualties and positive breath tests following a collision. The Government's most recent drink drive campaigns aims to target this group.

Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban.

• An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years, so it is 11 years before a convicted driver will have a 'clean' licence again.
• Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in three months' imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban.

Glovebox - Christmas don't drink and drive radio advert [474KB]

Fuel guage - Christmas don't drink and drive radio advert [475KB]

Moment of doubt video

Video clips can be quite large in size and may take a little while to appear on the screen - we recommend, if possible, you view the video clips using a broadband internet connection. If you cannot see the video clip on this page after a few minutes you may need to download the free Adobe Flash Player. Please visit our downloads page for more information.