Drink Driving Penalties
Drink driving is dealt with harshly by the law – and for good reason. Around 1 in 6 collisions involve a driver who is over the limit, which is a staggering number when you consider how few people are out drink driving compared to those who are sober.
Because of the massive danger involved in drink driving, exceeding the limit of 80mg of alcohol in 100 mg of blood carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison, a £5000 fine and a driving ban of 12 months. Although this is a maximum penalty, everybody caught drink driving loses their license for a year – a ban that remains on a license for 11 years! Not only does this boost insurance, the ban itself can totally ruin somebody’s life, as both work and family life become much, much harder.
As if this isn’t scary enough, merely being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit can result in a prison sentence of 3 months’ imprisonment, a £2,500 fine a driving ban! Failing to provide a provide a sample for testing won’t help either, as this carries a penalty as harsh as drink driving itself!
Most terrifying of all, however, is the penalty for causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. As if causing death wasn’t harrowing enough, you can also be sentenced to 14 years in prison!
