The Best Guide for the TN39 Area

One drink could be one too many

 Even one drink could be enough to put you over the limit for driving - that's the message from the Safer Rother Partnership's Safer Roads Group this Christmas.

Mani Gilbert-King, Chair of the Safer Roads Group and Rother District Commander with East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said, "Don't get in a car if you know the driver has been drinking, as any amount of alcohol will impair their ability to drive."

Inspector Steve Grace adds, "Far too many people still believe that having a couple of drinks is safe and will not put them over the limit. They are wrong. Drinking any alcohol will affect a driver's ability to drive safely and even a couple of drinks can put someone over the limit."

The alcohol limit for drinking and driving is 80mg in 100ml of blood. The Primary Care Trust says that it is "virtually impossible to translate this into a number of drinks - other factors also play a role, such as your weight and general physical health".

The PCT also reports that even if drivers who have been drinking are within the legal limit, they are more than twice as likely to have an accident compared to drivers who have not been drinking at all.

Inspector Grace added this warning to drink-drivers: "Sussex Police will be conducting checks morning, noon and night to catch those individuals who put all our lives at risk by drinking and driving."

If you know of someone who regularly drinks and drives, call Operation Crackdown on 01243 642222, but if you see someone who has been drinking and is about to drive home, call 999.

National helpline Drinkline can be contacted on 0800 917 8282 for 24-hour advice and information. Advice and info can also be found at http://www.drinkaware.co.uk./.