15
September
2015
|
12:02
Europe/London

Rugby fans urged to kick their cars into touch

The Service’s road safety experts want those who are planning to have a pint or two  whilst out watching the tournament to use a taxi or bus to get home or to appoint a designated non-drinking driver.

Mick Clarke, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Manager said: “I would like everyone to enjoy the Rugby World Cup, and having a few drinks watching the game with friends can be part of the fun. However I also want to remind people of the effects alcohol can have on a person’s reaction times and general awareness and therefore why people should never drink and drive.

“It makes great sense to leave the car keys behind and find another way of getting home.”

Mick added: ”It is important to remember you can also  be over the legal drink-drive limit the morning after an evening of drinking alcohol as it takes much longer than most people think for alcohol to pass through the body.

“The effect varies from person to person, but on average it takes about one hour for your body to rid itself of each unit of alcohol, starting from the time you finish your last drink.

“That means anyone having three 15% alcohol 250ml glasses of wine would not be safe to drive for 13 hours after finishing their last drink. If you’re driving to work or dropping the kids at school the next morning, you could still be over the drink drive limit, even if you feel fine.”

“Drinking coffee, sleeping, or having a shower won’t work. Time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

  • This advice is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s 365alive initiative.