Drinking And Driving – The Low Down

Driving while under the influence of alcohol can and does wreck lives. There is no excuse for any driver to drive while under the influence of alcohol. The consequences of their actions can affect not just themselves but other road users and pedestrians. There are an average of 3,000 people killed or seriously injured in drink-drive related accidents each year. That means one in seven deaths on our roads involve drivers over the legal limit. Having a drink is not worth the risk to your life and the lives of others!

As of March 2010, the UK legal limit for alcohol intake is:

You must not drive if you are above the following limits:

  • 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath
  • 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood
  • 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine


Remember that these are the legal limits for driving in the UK. Any amount of alcohol, even levels below these limits will affect and impair your driving ability.

On your first lesson, your ADI will give you a copy of the ‘Pass Plus Pupil’s Guide’ which contains information about the course. The course is mostly practical, though there is some theory as well. There is not formal test at the end of the course, but your ADI will assess you throughout the course. Your ADI will complete a training report form for you. The form will be signed and dated as you reach the required standard of driving for each individual module. Once you have successfully completed all six modules you will receive your Pass Plus certificate. The certificate can be used to obtain a discount on your car insurance.

The effects of alcohol on driving ability:

A blood alcohol level of 20-50mg/ml

Even such a low level of alcohol in your bloodstream will have a detrimental effect on your ability to drive safely. At this level, there is a general inability to correctly and accurately see or locate moving lights and judging distances becomes difficult. There is also an increased tendency to take risks, which can be more dangerous given the other effects of the alcohol.

A blood alcohol level of 50-80mg/ml

At this level your reactions are severely impaired and there is a noticeable lack of concentration and focus. This has greater implications because judgement of distances is also adversely affected. Your eyes are also affected, their ability to adjust to changing light conditions and perceive red lights is impaired.

A blood alcohol level of 80-120mg/ml

With this level of alcohol in your bloodstream the risks of you being involved in an accident are greatly magnified. You may think you are fit to drive, but that can be due to the alcohol making you overestimate your own abilities. At this level of alcohol in your bloodstream you will experience a degree of euphoria, but your peripheral vision and your ability to react to light and dark will be impaired. Your ability to perceive obstacles and assess dimensions will be impaired and your reactions will be slower.

A blood alcohol level of 120-140mg/ml

With this level of alcohol in your bloodstream you will be totally unfit to drive. Your reactions will be slow and delayed, and your concentration and vision will be severely impaired. Driving with this much alcohol in your bloodstream is incredibly dangerous and puts you and everyone you encounter on the road at risk of injury and death.

How many units it takes to reach the legal limit depends on a number of factors, such as the strength of alcohol and the individual’s body mass and response to the alcohol. A breath test is the safest way to check your alcohol levels. Even at levels below the legal limit, your driving ability will be impaired and you will be at greater risk of being involved in an accident. The best and safest way to avoid the risks involved with driving while under the influence of alcohol is to not drink any alcohol at all.