Driving Safety UK Law

Drink Driving

The temptation is always there. It's impossible to find a taxi and your feet are getting cold as you stand out in the rain. You hunch up with your hands in your pockets. Your fingers touch your car keys. It's only a short drive home and the roads should be pretty quiet at this time of night… perhaps you could drive – just this once...

Despite all the horror stories, despite all the warnings and despite all the dangers, people continue to drink and drive. It hardly seems necessary to dwell on the dangers, but please bear them in mind.

Alcohol – even in small amounts – has two main side effects on your driving. Firstly, it impairs your judgement. Your reaction times slow down, making it harder for you to react to everyday driving dangers like people stepping out on the road. Gauging distances and speeds becomes harder too.

Secondly, alcohol increases the levels of certain hormones produced by your body. Increased testosterone leads to higher levels of aggression as your inhibitions are lowered. Increased adrenalin makes you more excitable and competitive.

It's a lethal cocktail of circumstances that makes it massively more likely that you'll be involved in a road accident if you drive whilst under the influence.

The potential costs of Drink Driving

The most obvious danger to drink drivers is the risk of being involved in an accident. 3000 people are killed or injured as a direct result of drink driving – and 1 in 6 deaths on the road are down to drink drivers.

The social and practical costs can also be devastating. A conviction for drink driving – even if you haven't been involved in an accident – can result in a ban from driving for a year. That's going to make it hard to hold down many jobs and a criminal record means that getting a new job won't be any easier.

Child seat laws

Under UK law, all children travelling in cars must be using an appropriate child restraint. Ensuring that all children under 14 do so is the driver's responsibility (with a few exceptions). There are different requirements for children of different ages. If you have children, its well worth familiarising yourself with these requirements both for their safety and making sure you stay within the law.

For full, up to date official information, visit the official RoSPa site

Driving whilst using a Mobile phone UK Law

The law on using a mobile phone whilst driving is pretty clear: don't. (although there are exceptional circumstances where you may be permitted to dial 999 from a mobile while driving.)

Studies have shown that reaction times for drivers when using a mobile phone drop by 50% - which vastly increases the chances of their being involved in an accident.

As a result, all use of mobile communication devices whilst driving are now banned. Failure to comply could mean 6 points on your license and severe fines. This includes sending text messages or playing games on your phone.

What about driving whilst using hands-free kit?

Although most experts agree that hands-free kits do lead to lower response times and poorer driving, the law currently permits their use.

If you ever do need to take or make a phone call whilst on the move, we'd strongly recommend pulling over at the first convenient and safe spot, and finishing your call before moving off safely.