Drink/drive reductions
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he DETR's consultation document on combating drinking and driving comes at a time when HGV drink/driving is in the spotlight. Last week an Essex lorry driver was jailed for six years after killing three people while over the legal limit and driving a truck . The DETR proposes cutting the legal alcohol limit From 80mg per 100mg of blood to 50mg—the equivalent of about one pint of beer. Although drink/driving amongst HGV drivers is rare, operators should watch out for potential problems created by scheduling and shift changes. Drivers should also be aware that if they have a very early morning start after a late night out drinking, alcohol levels in their bloodstream may still be too high. In the event of an accident they could well be breathalysed. An HGV driver who is banned for drink/driving in a car will automatically lose his HGV entitlement . It will then be up to the local Traffic Commissioner to decide when that entitlement is returned after the ban is completed.
Typically, first-time drink/driving offenders would have to wait up to three months after their ban has ended before they could get their HGV entitlement back.
For a second offence it could be up to six months, while a third would attract an even longer delay.
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• TCs hold HGV licence entitiemertreven after a car licence has been returned followi drink driving ban.
• F couki • alcohol limits fall even further.