Breathalyser test chances double in December
The chances of being stopped for a breathalyser test is set to double in December. In 2021, 37,067 motorists who were suspected of drink driving were tested – more than twice the average for other months at 16,977. Forces are now stepping up their campaigns again this year, targeting those who are attempting to drive under the influence whilst celebrating Christmas and the World Cup.
A total of 3,840 drivers tested positive (or refused to provide a sample) last December, with a failure rate of more than 10%. In an analysis of Home Office Data by breathalyser firm AlcoSense, there were huge variations around the country in the amount of tests carried out. In Durham, 2,567 motorists were tested last December, whereas in Lincolnshire it was only 23.
There were also big discrepancies in the percentage of motorists who failed their breath test. The highest were in West Yorkshire, where 523 tests were conducted, with a worrying 29% of motorists tested being over the legal limit.
Managing Director of AlcoSense, Hunter Abbott, said: “Watching an evening World Cup game, whether at home with family or down the pub, increases the likelihood of driving the next morning with alcohol still in your system.”
“If you drink four pints of medium-strong beer or four large glasses of wine whilst enjoying the football, it could take as long as 14 hours for the alcohol to clear your system.”
“The rule is simple. If you’ve been drinking, don’t drive and if you’re driving, don’t drink. If in any doubt, self-test with a personal breathalyser to ensure you’re clear of alcohol before getting behind the wheel. One in five drink drive convictions are in the morning.”
Government figures estimate that 6,480 people are injured or killed in drink driving accidents, with drunk drivers accounting for 15% of road deaths each year. Even with 10mg per 100mL of alcohol in your blood (one eight of the legal limit in England and Wales) you are 37% more likely to be involved in a fatal road accident than when completely sober, according to research.
According to research, one in ten employees who drive as part of their work admit to being under the influence at least once a week. 3% of drivers admit to driving under the influence every day, and the biggest offenders are 18-34 year olds, with 25% of them admitting to being under the influence at least once a week.
The data suggests that if their research were transposed to a national scale, over 2 million drivers are putting the public at unacceptable levels of risk.
Keeping this information in mind, Fleet managers should remain vigilant and take measures to make sure that their drivers are fit and well to drive. This can be achieved with the help of telematics.
Telematics can help fleet managers spot drivers under the influence as it combines three different technologies to give fleet managers a holistic view:
• The gyroscope inside every telematics device reacts and records the forces that are exerted on it
• Geosynchronous satellites constantly monitor the location of the device and vehicle it is connected to
• Internal and external dashcams provide live video feeds
They relay information about:
• Journey information
• Average speed
• Harsh breaking
• Cornering speed
• Idling time
• Erratic behaviour
As the various feeds are in real-time, a fleet manager would be able to identify bad driving and react quickly. A fleet manager could either:
• Contact the driver by hands-free telecommunications
• Contact the emergency services
By being proactive and tackling drink driving in a proactive way, fleet managers can:
• Ensure the safety of their employees
• Ensure the safety of other road users and the public
• Guarantee that company property isn’t damaged
• Maintain their companies positive brand image
Useful Links:
For more information on how we can help your fleet reach its full potential call us on 0800 6126132 or go to https://www.cambriancards.com/telematics/
To find out more about our range of Trakm8 devices click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/trakm8-telematics/
To find out more about our range of Radius Telematics devices click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/radius-telematics-home/
View our video on telematics, and how it can help your fleet on our TikTok account here – https://www.tiktok.com/@cambrianfuelcards
