Drink and Drive

States of Jersey Police hold two drink drive campaigns every year, one in the summer months, and one at Christmas. However, drink drive checks happen throughout the year, and States officers work closely with their colleagues in the Honorary Police to carry out drink drive checks on motorists.

Throughout the year, the message is - do not drink and drive. In 2005, the number of people charged with drink driving fell slightly compared to 2004, but the Police are still keen for people to heed the drink drive message, and leave their car behind if they have been drinking.

DRINKING INFORMATION:

The legal limit for driving is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.The amount of alcohol in a half pint of beer is approximately the same as in a pub measure of spirits, of port or sherry, or a small glass of wine.Cocktails are especially potent, which is not always detectable from the taste.The amount and type of alcoholic drink, your weight, sex, age and metabolism all play a part in how much you can drink and stay under the limit.

Any alcohol, even a small drink, will impair your driving ability. Nearly one in seven of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. At twice the legal limit you are 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. The answer? Do not drink and drive.


It is impossible to accelerate the sobering up process. Showers, black coffee, pints of water, do not help, it just takes time.

If:
1. you refuse to provide a specimen
2. you are convicted at two and a half times the limit
3. you are convicted twice in ten years


you will be classed as a High Risk Offender and could be banned from driving for three years or even serve a prison sentence.

In all these cases you will have to convince a doctor that you do not have a drink problem before you get your licence back and you will have to pay for the medical examination.