Latest news with #JoShiner
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Exact time to stop boozing as Brits drink-drive 'the morning after'
Campaigners have pinpointed the best time at night to put your pints down as a survey found more than a fifth of motorists admitted to after-hours boozing More than a fifth of motorists have admitted to drinking alcohol after 10pm, despite knowing they need drive before 9am the next morning, a study has claimed. IAM RoadSmart, the road safety charity behind the study, issued a stark warning about the dangers of drinking the night before, stressing that even a "groggy head" can significantly slow down reaction times. The poll, which surveyed 1,072 UK motorists, found that 38 per cent of those who drank several alcoholic beverages before driving at 9am the next day ceased their drinking by 9pm. Drinkaware, the alcohol education charity, said that alcohol is metabolised at roughly one unit per hour, but this rate can vary based on factors such as weight, liver health, and metabolic rate. IAM RoadSmart highlighted the risks associated with consuming around three large glasses of wine or three pints of strong beer or cider, equating to nine units. They cautioned that individuals drinking until 10pm could still have alcohol in their system by 7am the following morning or later. Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart's director of policy and standards, said: " Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others. "Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality." Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who leads on roads policing for the National Police Chiefs' Council, warned drivers not to engage in heavy drinking the night before a day of driving. She said: "There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs, and this includes the morning after. If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk." The research revealed that nearly one in three drivers (31 per cent) had been passengers with friends or family members who consumed alcohol before taking control of a vehicle in the past year, reports Wales Online. Of those witnessing such behaviour, 72 per cent challenged the would-be driver about their fitness to get behind the wheel, while 23 per cent took no action whatsoever. An overwhelming four-fifths (81 per cent) of respondents believed rehabilitation programmes should be compulsory for all those found guilty of drink-driving offences. At present, such courses are occasionally offered as an alternative to lengthier disqualification periods. In addition, data from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency previously secured by the PA news agency showed that 27,837 British motorists received multiple drink-driving convictions over the 11-year period ending July 20, 2024. A staggering 372 individuals were caught at least four times, with four serial offenders facing prosecution on seven separate occasions. The most recent Department for Transport (DfT) statistics showed that an estimated 300 fatalities occurred in road accidents involving at least one driver exceeding the legal alcohol threshold during 2022. This represented a rise from 260 deaths the year before and marked the highest annual toll since 2009, when 380 people lost their lives. Furthermore, more DfT data presented via the RAC revealed there were more casualties during June and July 2024 (660 in each month) than at any time of the year. The legal limit for drink-driving in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland stands at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, a threshold higher than any other European country where the limit does not exceed 50mg/100ml. In contrast, Scotland lowered its limit to 50mg/100ml back in 2014. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: "We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink-driving, with rehabilitation courses offered to those convicted and banned from driving for over a year. "While we don't have plans to mandate these courses, we are committed to improving road safety, and our Think! campaign will next week launch its summer drink-drive activity, timed to coincide with the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight." The survey data came from research conducted by Online95, which polled 1,072 UK motorists last month on behalf of IAM RoadSmart.
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Sussex Police investigations must improve, report says
Sussex Police must improve its crime investigations as it does not always pursue relevant and proportionate lines of enquiry, an inspection has found.A report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that the force did not have enough capacity to make sure it progressed a large number of open serious crime inspectorate found Sussex Police to be "adequate" in most areas of policing, adding it was pleased with improvements made in the past Constable Jo Shiner said the force was "operating in a challenging financial environment" and was "committed to delivering an outstanding service to the people of Sussex". According to the report, one in 20 victim-based crimes dealt with by Sussex Police in the year ending 30 June 2024 resulted in a charge or court report cited a lack of capacity to progress long-standing investigations as a contributing factor to the low number of crimes being Police was rated as "good" for its responses to the public and "adequate" in eight other areas of policing, including preventing crime and protecting vulnerable issues highlighted in the report included the disproportionality of "stop and searches" carried out by Sussex Police to the report, black people were 6.1 times more likely to be subject to a stop and search than white people in the county – higher than the national average rate of 3.6 times for England and Shiner said the force was "open to feedback" and that many of the recommendations made in the report had already been identified."We will continue working alongside HMICFRS to accelerate and embed these plans to ensure we are delivering the best possible service for the people of Sussex," she added.
STV News
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- STV News
Fifth of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm ahead of morning drive
More than a fifth (21%) of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm when needing to drive before 9am the following morning, a new survey suggests. Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a 'serious threat' because a 'groggy head' means slower reaction times. The survey of 1,072 UK motorists also indicated that 38% of people who have consumed several alcoholic drinks ahead of driving before 9am stopped drinking after 9pm. Charity Drinkaware states that alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, although this varies depending on a person's weight, liver health and metabolism speed. Around three large glasses of wine or three pints of high-strength beer or cider is the equivalent of nine units. Someone consuming those drinks up to 10pm could still have alcohol in their body at 7am or later, IAM RoadSmart warned. Nicholas Lyes, the charity's director of policy and standards, said: 'Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others. 'Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. 'Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality.' Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, said: 'There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs, and this includes the morning after. 'If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk.' The survey also suggested nearly a third (31%) of drivers in the previous 12 months had been with a friend or relative who drank alcohol before getting into a vehicle. Some 72% of this group warned them they should not drive, while 23% said they took no action. Four out of five (81%) people polled said rehabilitation courses should become mandatory for anyone convicted of a drink-drive offence. Currently the courses are sometimes offered in return for a shorter driving ban. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency statistics previously obtained by the PA news agency revealed 27,837 British motorists were convicted of drink-driving multiple times in the 11 years to July 20 2024. Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions. Latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures show an estimated 300 people were killed in crashes on Britain's roads involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in 2022. That was up from 260 the previous year and was the highest total since 2009 when 380 deaths were recorded. Separate figures show there are more drink drive-related casualties in July than any other month of the year. The Scottish Government reduced its limit to 50g/100ml in 2014. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. A DfT spokesperson said: 'We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink-driving, with rehabilitation courses offered to those convicted and banned from driving for over a year. 'While we don't have plans to mandate these courses, we are committed to improving road safety, and our Think! campaign will next week launch its summer drink-drive activity, timed to coincide with the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight.' – IAM RoadSmart commissioned research company Online95 to conduct the survey of 1,072 UK motorists last month. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
North Wales Chronicle
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Chronicle
Fifth of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm ahead of morning drive
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a 'serious threat' because a 'groggy head' means slower reaction times. The survey of 1,072 UK motorists also indicated that 38% of people who have consumed several alcoholic drinks ahead of driving before 9am stopped drinking after 9pm. Charity Drinkaware states that alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, although this varies depending on a person's weight, liver health and metabolism speed. Around three large glasses of wine or three pints of high-strength beer or cider is the equivalent of nine units. Someone consuming those drinks up to 10pm could still have alcohol in their body at 7am or later, IAM RoadSmart warned. Nicholas Lyes, the charity's director of policy and standards, said: 'Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others. 'Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. 'Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality.' Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, said: 'There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs, and this includes the morning after. 'If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk.' The survey also suggested nearly a third (31%) of drivers in the previous 12 months had been with a friend or relative who drank alcohol before getting into a vehicle. Some 72% of this group warned them they should not drive, while 23% said they took no action. Four out of five (81%) people polled said rehabilitation courses should become mandatory for anyone convicted of a drink-drive offence. Currently the courses are sometimes offered in return for a shorter driving ban. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency statistics previously obtained by the PA news agency revealed 27,837 British motorists were convicted of drink-driving multiple times in the 11 years to July 20 2024. Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions. Only time sobers you up — nothing else works. It takes about an hour to process one unit of alcohol, meaning you could still be over the limit the next morning. If you're driving early, it's safest to skip the drinks. Learn more: — IAM RoadSmart (@IAMRoadSmart) July 16, 2025 Latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures show an estimated 300 people were killed in crashes on Britain's roads involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in 2022. That was up from 260 the previous year and was the highest total since 2009 when 380 deaths were recorded. Separate figures show there are more drink drive-related casualties in July than any other month of the year. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. Nowhere else in Europe has a limit above 50mg/100ml. The Scottish Government reduced its limit to that level in 2014. A DfT spokesperson said: 'We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink-driving, with rehabilitation courses offered to those convicted and banned from driving for over a year. 'While we don't have plans to mandate these courses, we are committed to improving road safety, and our Think! campaign will next week launch its summer drink-drive activity, timed to coincide with the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight.' – IAM RoadSmart commissioned research company Online95 to conduct the survey of 1,072 UK motorists last month.
South Wales Argus
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Fifth of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm ahead of morning drive
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a 'serious threat' because a 'groggy head' means slower reaction times. The survey of 1,072 UK motorists also indicated that 38% of people who have consumed several alcoholic drinks ahead of driving before 9am stopped drinking after 9pm. Charity Drinkaware states that alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, although this varies depending on a person's weight, liver health and metabolism speed. Around three large glasses of wine or three pints of high-strength beer or cider is the equivalent of nine units. Someone consuming those drinks up to 10pm could still have alcohol in their body at 7am or later, IAM RoadSmart warned. Nicholas Lyes, the charity's director of policy and standards, said: 'Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others. 'Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. 'Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality.' Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, said: 'There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs, and this includes the morning after. 'If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk.' The survey also suggested nearly a third (31%) of drivers in the previous 12 months had been with a friend or relative who drank alcohol before getting into a vehicle. Some 72% of this group warned them they should not drive, while 23% said they took no action. Four out of five (81%) people polled said rehabilitation courses should become mandatory for anyone convicted of a drink-drive offence. Currently the courses are sometimes offered in return for a shorter driving ban. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency statistics previously obtained by the PA news agency revealed 27,837 British motorists were convicted of drink-driving multiple times in the 11 years to July 20 2024. Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions. Only time sobers you up — nothing else works. It takes about an hour to process one unit of alcohol, meaning you could still be over the limit the next morning. If you're driving early, it's safest to skip the drinks. Learn more: — IAM RoadSmart (@IAMRoadSmart) July 16, 2025 Latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures show an estimated 300 people were killed in crashes on Britain's roads involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in 2022. That was up from 260 the previous year and was the highest total since 2009 when 380 deaths were recorded. Separate figures show there are more drink drive-related casualties in July than any other month of the year. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. Nowhere else in Europe has a limit above 50mg/100ml. The Scottish Government reduced its limit to that level in 2014. A DfT spokesperson said: 'We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who are caught drink-driving, with rehabilitation courses offered to those convicted and banned from driving for over a year. 'While we don't have plans to mandate these courses, we are committed to improving road safety, and our Think! campaign will next week launch its summer drink-drive activity, timed to coincide with the National Police Chiefs' Council's Operation Spotlight.' – IAM RoadSmart commissioned research company Online95 to conduct the survey of 1,072 UK motorists last month.
