The 4 myths of drink driving

As the summer holidays get into full swing, Devon and Cornwall Police have reminded drivers of the risks of drinking and driving.

The force has exploded the four myths which many motorists believe in an attempt to encourage those enjoying their annual break to stay safe and protect others.

Myth One: 'I know how much I can drink to stay below the legal limit.'

Fact:
You must not drive if you are above the following limits:How much have you had? Don't drink and drive
35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath
80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine
BUT
It is impossible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the legal limit. Alcohol intake depends on a number of factors, including the individual's response to alcohol.
Your system continues to absorb alcohol even after you've finished drinking.
Without taking a breath test there is no way of knowing how much alcohol is in your system.
The best way to make sure you are not over the limit is not to drink and drive.

Myth Two: 'Drink doesn't affect the way I drive.'

Fact:
If you have drunk at least twice the current drink drive limit then you are 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.  What will your drink cost you

Myth Three: 'I haven't had a drink since last night, I can't be still over the limit.'

Fact:

Many people drive the morning after they have been drinking. However, there may still be alcohol in their system and if they are stopped and breathlysed they could be over the limit. It takes longer than you think for alcohol to leave your body.
Take a Saturday night's drinking:
At midnight you may have 200 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood in your system. This is 2½ times the drink drive limit.
At 7.30 am there will still be 90 milligrams per 100 millilitres in your system - you are still over the drink-drive limit.
By lunchtime you will still have about 20 milligrams within your
system, not above the limit, but still enough to adversely affect your driving. 

Myth Four: 'I'll never get caught.'

Fact:
More than half a million breath tests are carried out every year in England and Wales.
In 2012, Devon & Cornwall Police arrested 2067 people for drink driving. What will your drink cost you
AND
If you are convicted of drinking and driving:
You will have a criminal record.
You will be disqualified from driving for at least a year.
Your next vehicle insurance premium will significantly increase.
You will have difficulty hiring a car for the next 10 years.
You may have to retake your driving test and attend rehabilitation to regain your licence.