Most drivers are aware that Christmas is a time for a major police crackdown on drink driving, with many thousands of extra breathalyser tests being carried out. But fewer may be aware that the month of June sees the second highest number of breath tests amongst road users.
The summer is a specific target for police patrols with June seeing 50% more breath tests carried out than any other month apart from December.
The reason for the increased focus on drink driving is the rising number of road deaths caused by drivers under the influence. The number of people killed in road accidents where the driver was over the drink drive limit has risen 45% in two years.
Figures released by the Department for Transport suggested there were 290 such deaths in 2017, compared with 200 in 2015.
The summer sees a spike in alcohol -related road accidents due to warmer weather, sporting events, barbeques and an increased incidence of social drinking, with a resulting increase in police activity.
Police breathalysed 36,041 drivers in England and Wales in June 2017 – the latest year for which figures are available. This compared with a monthly average of 23,840 across the rest of the year, excluding the Christmas period.
Nearly one in ten motorists (3,275) tested positive in the June 2017 drink-driving campaign. Almost a fifth (17.8%) of drink drive convictions are ‘morning after’ anda third of all breath tests after an accident are conducted in the morning between 7am and 1pm.
Drivers in Merseyside were the most likely to be stopped in June, with 3,010 breathalysed – followed by Hampshire (2,532) and Thames Valley (2,265).
Wales was also a hotspot with 2,178 breath tests in South Wales and 1,952 in North Wales.
“The police always focus on June as, statistically, it’s a drink drive hotspot,” Hunter Abbott, managing director of breathalyser manufacturer, AlcoSense Laboratories, told industry newspaper, Fleet News.
“With warmer weather, sporting events and barbeques, June is a month when motorists are more likely to unintentionally drink drive the morning after socialising – posing a risk to themselves and other road users,” he said.
In England and Wales, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80 milligrams (mg)of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood, 35mlper 100mlof breath or 107mgper 100mlof urine. This is the highest in Europe.
The alcohol limit for drivers in Scotland is lower than elsewhere in the UK at 50mg of alcohol in every 100ml of blood and 22mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. In most other European countries, the limit is lower, typically 50mgper 100mlof blood or less.
Anyone caughtover the legal alcohol limit when driving will be banned from driving for at least 12 months, fined up to £5,000 and receive between three to 11 penalty driving points.
They could also be sent to prison for up to six months. All these factors – the length of imprisonment, period of disqualification, size of fine and penalty points depend on the severity of the offence.
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.
And 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.
If you’re caughtdrink drivingmore than once in a 10 year period, you’ll be banned for at least three years.
Mike Manners, managing director of CBVC Vehicle Management, said: “Many drivers are unaware that the summer is a peak period for roadside breath tests, second only to Christmas.
“Our advice to drivers is always unequivocal – if you are going to drink, then don’t drive. Leave the car at home and arrange an alternative form of transport.
“Or you could designate someone in your party as the driver .This person should abstain from alcohol for the night out so they can drive the rest of the group home safely,” he said.
