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No true safe limit for drinking while driving, says IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart has launched its Christmas drink-drive campaign, calling on drivers to abstain from alcohol altogether.

Driver being breathalysed

IAM RoadSmart’s Driver Retraining Academy has renewed calls for drink drivers who are referred to a drink drive rehabilitation course to be made to opt out

The road safety charity says there is no true safe limit as to when a small amount of alcohol becomes risky and points to figures that having alcohol in your system at just below the limit increases your chances of dying in a crash six-fold.

It adds that alcohol affects different people in different ways depending on a variety of factors, not least age and build.

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart chief executive officer, said: “Our Christmas drink drive campaign is all about giving people a clear message – there is no point in drinking up to the limit and thinking everything will be fine. There can only be one guideline – drinking and driving don’t mix.”

“We also want to make sure that in a group of friends, the designated driver is recognised as the hero of the road. It is down to him or her that we can all travel safely on the roads. They are making sure we spend the festive season celebrating with our families – and not in the Accident and Emergency ward or worse.”

IAM RoadSmart is offering afternoon tea at The Savoy in London as a competition prize – all entrants have to do is tweet a picture to the IAM RoadSmart twitter page using the hashtag #herooftheroad, showing the designated driver being celebrated by his or her group of friends.

Sillars added that it is vital that as many people convicted of a drink drive offence go on to take a drink drive rehabilitation course as possible.

“Evidence shows that participation in a drink driving rehabilitation course reduces the risk of reoffending and individuals who take our own course consistently say that they never realised the risks before participating. Driver education, while essential, can be challenging because it can be difficult to reach the right audience. Working with those who are already passing through the legal system is a no brainer.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.