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Passengers need to take on more responsibility for drink driving. So you're a passenger, you suspect the person driving you around has had a few drinks, so what? It's their car; they are the one driving so surely it's up to them if they want to drive?
Passengers need to take on more responsibility for drink driving. So you're a passenger, you suspect the person driving you around has had a few drinks, so what? It's their car; they are the one driving so surely it's up to them if they want to drive?
Apparently this is the view held by a frightening majority of us, according to recent findings.
The RAC conducted a survey of over 1000 Facebook users and found that almost one in five young people between the ages of 18 and 24 admitted getting into a car with someone they believed to be over the limit during last year's festive period.
The survey also found 8% of 25 to 49 year olds and 12% of 13 to 17 year olds also said they had travelled in a car despite thinking the driver was drunk.
It is all too easy to jump into someone's car when you have been on a night out, or even for a lunchtime drink, however, it is important to remember whether the driver has consumed two pints or 10, the effects of alcohol are the same as are the potential consequences of driving whilst drunk!
Alcohol can affect driving ability as soon as it enters the blood stream, a driver becomes less aware of their surroundings, their reactions are slower and their overall ability to judge a potential road hazard is reduced. Put simply the driver is endangering themselves and any other road user but judging by these latest findings maybe we should start holding passengers accountable too?
If you have been guilty of getting into the car with someone you know to have been intoxicated then maybe its worth thinking about the consequences the driver will be risking in the very likely event they will get caught:
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £5000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban.
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, a minimum two year driving ban and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to drive legally again.
And if you think you won't get caught, more than half a million breath tests are carried out each year and on average 100,000 are found to be positive.
Not to mention the risk of injuring or potentially killing another road user!
The consequences of drink driving doesn't just impact on the driver so the question is why should the responsibility of stopping drink driving solely rest with the driver? After all, it could be a relation of the passenger that ends up being a victim of a drink drive collision or maybe even the passenger themselves.
Oh and as for the myths that a good night's sleep will sober you or your designated driver up, think again! A cup of coffee or a long shower will not decrease the level of alcohol in the blood stream, only time will do the trick.
So for those people catching lifts with someone they believe might have 'had a few' that night or the night before, be responsible, take the bus, get a taxi or even walk if the distance isn't too far but more importantly make sure the driver does the same!
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