Risky Business

• The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. However, any amount of alcohol affects how well you drive.
• If you drive or try to drive whilst over the legal limit or drunk there is a maximum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban.
• An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years, so it is 11 years before a you will have a "clean" licence again.
• Driving under the influence of drugs can affect your skills in all the same ways as drinking, and also cause:
  • distorted perception
  • taking unnecessary risks
  • hallucinations
  • panic attacks and paranoia
• The police can carry out roadside tests to help them decide whether to arrest you if they think you've taken drugs.
• The penalties for driving under the influence of drugs are the same as for drink driving. You face a minimum one year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000, and six months jail.

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