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Stay safe, stay sober
Page 18
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Once upon a time alcoholic beverages really were safer than water. But if you're driving this Christmas that drink could wreck your life. Dylan Gray reports.
Despite increasingly graphic advertising campaigns, a rise in drink-driving seems to be as much a part of the Christmas period as lorry hijackings and reruns of The Great Escape.
And there's still a common misconception that being able to handle the controls in your vehicle means you're fit to drive.
It's true that a couple of beers will not stop you changing gear, using the pedals and steering. But they will change your perception of traffic situations, making you more likely to take risks, while slowing your reaction times and reducing your field of vision.
What's your limit?
It's almost impossible to know when you've drunk more than the legal limit. You can't check your body's chemistry at the push of a button so every time you drink and drive you're gambling with your licence and, in this industry, probably your livelihood.
When you pass the legal limit depends on your weight, sex, age and metabolism, as well as the amount you drink. A young,100kg man will need more alcohol to reach that limit than an elderly woman weighing 50kg.
The legal limit in the UK is 80mg of alcohol in 100m1 of blood; it's 'common knowledge' among drinkers that it's safe (from a legal point of view, at least) to drink fewer than two units of alcohol. But with so many variables that's no guarantee that you won't be kissing your licence goodbye.
The morning after Many people take the sensible view and simply don't drink and drive, but many have already have done so many times without knowing it.
After a heavy night out it's all too easy to be over the limit the next morning, as many drivers have found to their cost. If you must drink the night before you might consider a home brealha lyser; they cost from £15 upwards (see www.value-breathalysers.co.uk for a selection).
For the record, there's no way to make your body metabolise alcohol any quicker. A hot shower, cup of black coffee or a fry-up might make you feel better, but they won't rid you of last night's poison.
The outcome
On average some 3,000 people a year are killed or seriously injured in drink-drive incidents. Figures from 2004 show that 25% of all road deaths involved drivers over the legal limit: the main offenders are males aged 17-29.
These figures were obtained from breath tests taken at accident sites and from blood tests made at post-mortems.
Truck drivers In our ageing industry it's tempting to assume drink-driving applies mainly to 'the youngsters'. But people who started driving 30 years ago when breathalysers were a rarity may have grown up with a more relaxed attitude towarc drink-driving.
This attitude has to change bt cause the authorities show no len ence at all these days, especial] with all the accurate testing met] ods at their disposal.
It is easy to read the facts an advice and think "that doesn apply to me. I've been OK so far That might be the case.but think it this way in an unavoidable a cident. one mouthful of beer cou mean the difference betwec freedom and a long spell in priso The conclusion is obvious: dot drink alcohol the night before yc drive. It simply isn't worth it. • USEFUL HINTS AND TIPS • Do not assume that a pint is a pint. If you are planning on having a beer and driving home, remember that the choice of brew may mean the difference between a yellow or red breath test (see panel 'drink examples' for some figures).
• Fry-ups and pizzas are good for you! Eating fatty and protein-rich foods before having a drink will help close the stomach's pyloric valves, which traps the alcohol in the stomach and causes slower absorption. That way your liver has more time to break down the alcohol that is in your bloodstream.
• Do not feel obliged to finish your drink. Also, if people want to buy you drinks, drill it into their heads that you want a Virgin Mary, not a Bloody Mary.