Christmas is a time when our social lives heighten and we celebrate with friends, family and colleagues. A trip to the Christmas markets and staff Christmas parties can (and usually do) lead to drinking. While we all like a merry Christmas, it’s important to be safe and never more so than when driving.  Here are 3 things you should know about driving at Christmas.

You can’t have a glass of sherry at every house you visit

Although Santa may, it would definitely push you over the limit. The legal limit Is 35mg in 100ml of breath, or 80 milligrams of alcohol in every 100ml of blood.  The amount you can drink varies on an individual basis and everything from your weight, age and stress can differ the way alcohol affects you.

Santa may be guided by his reindeer, but you’re not

Getting behind the wheel when drinking is extremely dangerous as alcohol slows down your reactions and makes it more difficult to process information. If you know you’re going to be drinking in the evening, leave your car at home.  You can take advantage of public transport, get taxis, book yourself in a hotel or get a designated driver for the night.

Don’t go on the naughty list

Anyone caught over the legal alcohol limit when driving will be banned from driving for at least 12 months and fined up to £5,000. There’s nothing you can do to speed up your body processing alcohol and just because you’ve been to sleep doesn’t mean it’s out of your system, in fact, you can still be over the legal limit the morning after and the penalty is the same.

If you need advice in relation to motoring offences please get in touch with our Motoring Offence Lawyers at the earliest opportunity. For 24 hour advice via our emergency crime line, call 01254 606050.