Drivers in Oxfordshire urged not to drink and drive this New Year
Roads policing teams are issuing warnings as fears of drink driving offences grow
Last updated 31st Dec 2023
There are concerns drivers out celebrating New Years Eve in Oxfordshire might take the wheel after a drink, increasing the risk of drink-driving offences.
Every year, roads policing teams see a growing number of road accidents and fatal collisions during the period between Christmas and New Years.
According to government guidance, it is legal to drive with 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, equivalent to 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood.
However it is impossible to know how much alcohol would be considered the limit for each individual, as the way alcohol will affect a person depends on their weight, age, sex and metabolism (the rate your body uses energy).
"It's a myth with the water and the food, your body will absorb the alcohol at a very different rate, it's just not worth it."
PC Sam Sparkes from the Roads Policing team operating in Oxfordshire said: "It's a myth with the water and the food, your body will absorb the alcohol at a very different rate, it's just not worth it."
"It can be a quite insignificant damage-only road traffic collision where no one's injured and someone has blown over the legal limit and ends up getting arrested, or it can be a pedestrian that's walked into the road."
Th repercussions from a road collision as a direct result of drink or drug driving can, in the worst case scenario, be fatal, however consequences for a less damaging accident can be huge on an individual's life.
"...it's going to affect your insurance, your livelihood, your job, that's a lot to risk for the sake of a pint or two..."
Ms Sparkes said: "It's a minimum of a year ban, and that will increase depending on how much over the limit you are.
"If you're convicted of drink-driving it's going to affect your insurance, your livelihood, your job, that's a lot to risk for the sake of a pint or two when the same amount of money you would have spent on the drink you could have gotten a taxi home for."
Every year, Roads Policing officers tear families apart on what would have been a time spent together celebrating, as a direct result of illegal driving.
If you want to see what I have to see and see what I put families through for the sake of drink drivers, I can guarantee you would never do it again", added Ms Sparkes.
Drivers are being urged to opt for an alternative way home by travelling back through other means such as public transport or taxis.