Brake, the road safety charity, has published a set of figures regarding a summer campaign focused on drunk driving. The results are disturbing, officials say.

According to the figures published by all British police forces, drug driving and drunk driving tests are being done on fewer people than before, but with more positive test results. 

In the case of any of the two offenses presented above, a positive test result means that the motorist in question was under the “spell” of alcohol or drugs while driving on public roads.

In figures, this summer campaign has led to 49,440 vehicles stopped by the Police, with 45,267 breath tests carried out. Out of those tested, ten percent were definite, failed, or the driver refused to take the test. Furthermore, 11.4% of drivers tested with a breath analyzer after a collision had a result that was positive, including failures and refusals. 

Almost the same percentage (10.2%) occurred with drivers that were tested without a collision, so it was just a matter of chance that this category was not involved in an accident the night they went driving after they had drank. 

Police officers performed 279 drug field impairment tests, and 80 of them resulted in an arrest, which means 28.7% of all the tested drivers. The former category of tests was done following a collision, and 66 people were tested positive. However, 2,588 drug screening devices were administered, and 39.7% of them were positive (no failures or refusals here).

As Brake representatives have underlined, the United Kingdom needs to make a priority out of ensuring a strong deterrent against drunk or drugged driving. 

According to Gloucestershire’s road safety team, a conviction for drink driving could cost an offender between £20,000 to £50,000 as a result of fines, lawyer fees, increase in car insurance, and even a loss of a job.

Driving after you consumed alcohol can get you a minimum driving ban of 12 months, a criminal record, a fine of up to £5,000, and an endorsement on the license for 11 years. 

The latter, along with a criminal record, will bring a strong stigma one one’ reputation, which will be enough for some employers to fire the person that was convicted for drink driving, while others will not employ the same person after discovering their criminal record.

The moral of this story is never to drink and drive. The same applies for drugs or prescription medication that can affect driving performance.

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