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Connecting YouDrink driving
Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:41
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If you make the decision to drink more than your legal limit, and then get behind the wheel of a car, you should make sure you are big enough to accept the ugly consequences of what might happen as a result of your choice. Things like losing a best mate, injuring a relative, killing someone’s kid, or maybe losing your ability to go to the toilet on your own. All pretty sobering stuff.
Drinking alcohol and driving is dangerous because drinking alcohol slows your reflexes down, causing you to react more slowly than you normally would. Obviously the best thing for you, your mates, family and strangers is that you don’t drink at all if you’re going to drive. Taking turns to be the designated sober driver is a good way of keeping everyone safe. Otherwise, pooling some cash amongst your friends and putting this aside when you go out partying can mean that a cab ride home is affordable.
The amount of alcohol you can drink before you are over the limit depends on many things - your age, weight, body size, gender, what you’ve had to eat that day and whether you are tired or have taken any medicine that might increase the effect of the alcohol e.g. a petite female teenager who has played a couple of grueling hockey games, may be over the limit after one glass of wine.There have also been some recent changes to legislation.
If you drive, and are under the age of 20, make sure you are up to speed on the recent changes to the legal drink drive limit:
... The facts:
The legal drink drive limit for drivers under the age of 20 has changed from 0.03 Blood Alcohol Concentration (or BAC) to zero. This is part of a government strategy to make the roads safer, as young people are at high risk of death or serious injury from road crashes in New Zealand – and for a significant portion of these, drink driving is a factor.
If you have to go through the alcohol-testing process and are found to have a blood alcohol concentration level of between zero and 0.03 (the old legal limit prior to the zero tolerance law being introduced), you will receive an infringement notice. This will be for an infringement fee of $200 and 50 demerit points. If you receive 100 or more demerit points within a two year period, you will have your driver’s licence suspended for three months.
*Note: BAC 0.03 is the same as 30mg alcohol per 100 ml blood or 150 mcg alcohol per litre breath.
If your test comes in at over 0.03 and you are under the age of 20, you will have to go to court. If you are found guilty you can be fined up to $2,250 or face imprisonment for up to three months; In addition you will be disqualified from driving for three months or more.
If you come in at over 0.08 you will have to go to court. If you are found guilty by the court the penalties are increased to a fine of up to $4,500 or imprisonment for up to three months. In addition you will be disqualified from driving for six months or more.
*Note: BAC 0.08 is the same as 80 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood or 400 mcg alcohol per litre breath.
If you repeat-offend at alcohol levels beyond BAC 0.08, you may be looking at higher penalties than those stated above.
Additional Penalties for High Alcohol Level Offences:
If your alcohol level is higher than BAC 0.13 the Police will immediately suspend your licence for 28 days. This is in addition to any other penalties the court gives you if you are found guilty.
*Note: BAC 0.13 is that same as 130 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood or 650 mcg alcohol per litre breath.
Don’t ever mix drugs and alcohol before driving. Mixing alcohol and drugs can significantly increase your chances of crashing. You will also be increasing your chances of being picked up by the Police and prosecuted.