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20 Jan 2012
The Chairman of Cheshire Police Authority has warned young
people who drink and drive, "Think about the long-term
effect on your own life!"
Margaret Ollerenshaw says,
Even if you avoid injuring yourself and other people, the
results of a drink-driving conviction will stay with you
for years.
She was speaking in the wake of figures for the Cheshire Police
area over the Christmas and New Year holiday which showed 26 per
cent of drivers arrested for drink and drug driving were aged under
25 and 39 per cent were under 30 years old.
With many years experience as a magistrate and my contact with
policing in my present role, I have had a close-up view of the
consequences of drink driving.
If the possibility of causing death or injury to other people
and to yourself isn′t enough to stop you, you should consider the
effects a drink-drive conviction would have on your life.
As well as a probable fine of hundreds of pounds, you will face
a huge increase in your car insurance costs when the time comes to
get back on the road.
In the meantime, you face a mandatory driving ban of at
least 12 months. You may be banned for considerably
longer. If your job involves driving or if you have to use a car to
get to work, that obviously puts your employment in jeopardy. Even
if you keep your job, your social and private life will suffer
because you will not be able to see friends and relatives as
easily. If you have children you will not be able to drive them to
school. Everyday chores such as shopping will suddenly become a lot
more difficult.
These are the type of lifestyle changes which put real strains
on personal relationships.
The situation can be even more serious. If you
are substantially over the alcohol limit when you are arrested you
will probably be looking at a three-year driving
ban and a fine of between a thousand and five
thousand pounds. The magistrates may
consider a community order with a curfew. You may even go
to prison for up to six months.
There are still worse scenarios. If your drink, or drug,
impaired driving caused a collision which results in someone′s
death the maximum penalty is a fourteen year prison
sentence.
The drink-drive figures over the Christmas and New Year period
seem to indicate that while most people understand that drink and
drugs don′t mix with driving, some younger drivers are just not
getting the message. That is a disappointing trend.
If everyone gives the consequences some serious
thought the picture should change drastically.
- Margaret Ollerenshaw, Chairman of Cheshire Police
Authority
