As a busy summer of celebrations is on the horizon, thousands of drivers were warned last week that the effects of alcohol can last long after the night ends.
As part of their collaborative work towards reducing Road Traffic Collisions, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safer Road Partnership engaged with those travelling to the Island as the Isle of Wight Festival began.
With face-to-face engagement at ferry terminals in Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington, thousands were warned not to risk driving under the influence the morning after drinking.
Lewis Campbell, road safety officer for the Isle of Wight Council and chair of the Isle of Wight and Hampshire Safer Roads partnership, said:
“I want to say a big thank you to our local ferry operators and our partners within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safer Roads Partnership for supporting this important campaign.
“There is no safe level of alcohol when it comes to driving. By engaging directly with drivers heading to the island, we have once again highlighted the importance of planning your alcohol consumption if you know you must drive the next day.
“The Morning After calculator can help you do that, but you must remember to plan your journeys and take care when drinking the night before you know you have to travel.”
Article continues below this advertisement “The consequences of drink driving are serious. Offenders can face big fines, driving bans, or even be sent to prison. Simply being found in a stationary vehicle while intoxicated, with the keys in the ignition, could lead to a £2,500 fine, a three-month prison sentence, and a driving ban.”
Eye-catching graphics were used to remind drivers that they might potentially be travelling unknowingly over the legal limit the day after drinking.
Those travellers were told about the Morning After calculator, a free online tool that helps people estimate how long it takes for alcohol to leave their bodies.
The calculator provides estimates and is not to be used as a green light to drink more, but instead helps drivers make safer choices the day after.
Similar initiatives have been run at mainland ports over Isle of Wight Festival weekend since 2016.
With the festival behind us, a summer full of events awaits, and residents are being encouraged to use the Morning After calculator throughout the period.
Colin Evans, Regional Programme Manager for National Highways, said:
“Road safety is a shared endeavour and we want everyone to play their part, and help make sure everyone gets home safe after the Isle of Wight Festival.
“By talking to drivers about the length of time it takes for alcohol to go through your system, we hope people are more likely to make good, informed decisions about when to stop drinking this night before they drive home.”
You can try the Morning After calculator at: www.morning-after.org.uk
It is not only persons travelling to the island, the majority
of drink drivers are island residents.
Check out most pubs between 4pm-6pm many
are busy with tradesmen drinking a few after a days graft.
OBVIOUSLY OVER THE TOP.
Too be honest why do Ferry operators sell alcohol, they could
sell alcohol FREE drinks
Also speeding should be highlighted, it is RIFE on the
Island.
20mph is plenty.
Whilst I can see the merits of a ‘Morning After Calculator’..
The one in question does seem to be rather confused…
Firstly, all options to enter the number of units of spirits consumed are based on 35ml shots,… while the standard shot here (England) is 25ml
Secondly, most adults could consume a single unit of alcohol, and not be over the drink drive limit (I am not suggesting it is safe to do so.. just the fact that it would not be likely to put you over the limit)
However, while the ‘Morning After Calculator’ states “On average it takes around one hour per unit of alcohol, for alcohol to pass through the body.”
it then calculates that for a single measure of alcohol, you should wait two and a half hours before driving… (2½ times longer that they say it takes)
if they want people to take it seriously (which they obviously should), they should at least get their maths correct…
if it is so obviously over the top on calculating how long you shroud wait, people aren’t going to believe it..and will be less inclined to consider it
The law needs changing NO alcohol should be consumed
if driving a vehicle
“NO ALCOHOL” that would solve any discrepancies.
Your body contains alcohol that is why there is a statuary limit.
also, many basic medicines and other products contain small amounts of alcohol… so a zero limit is absolutely not practical.
You learn something new everyday.
But the moral to the story is still DO NO DRINK AND DRIVE!
no alcohol… over what time period ??
the previous hour??, day?? week??
year ??
Lifetime ??
Yes, I’m being ridiculous… but you started it