Driving or attempting to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a major cause of road injuries and death.
Apart from the potentially lethal consequences of drink and/or drug driving, you can lose your licence, be jailed and fined up to £5,000.
When the Police may ask you to use a breathalyser
- If you have been driving or attempting to drive or have been in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place and have committed a traffic offence while the vehicle was in motion.
- If you have been driving or attempting to drive or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place at the time of a road accident.
- If they have reasonable cause to suspect that you have been driving or attempting to drive or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place and have alcohol in your body.
If you fail to do a breath test
It’s an offence if you, without reasonable excuse, fail to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so. A police officer may arrest you without warrant if, as a result of a breath test, he has reasonable cause to suspect that the proportion of alcohol in your breath or blood exceeds the prescribed limit, or you have failed to provide a specimen of breath or the police officer has reasonable cause to suspect that you have alcohol in your body.
How to avoid exceeding the drink drive limit
- The easiest way to avoid exceeding the prescribed limits is NEVER to drink and drive.
- The legal limit is so low; it might not even cover one drink.
- It’s also important to be aware that, even within prescribed limits, there is still an increased risk of being involved in a collision if you drink alcohol or take drugs before you drive.