Drinking Without Driving Can Be Done

Drinking Without Driving Can Be Done

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Being prosecuted for drink driving and the inevitable driving ban that will follow is a life changing event. And it's not for the better. A ban could result in the loss of your job if you need your licence for your work so just think of the financial implications. These could be just as great if you use a car just for travelling to and from work. Even if you manage to keep your job, the aftermath is equally financially painful because all insurance companies will charge you excessive premiums for many years after the ban. However, the financial disadvantages pale into insignificance when compared to being involved in an accident and injuring or, heaven forbid, killing someone when incapacitated through drink. Both of these carry the possibility of a custodial sentence and if you think the prospect of losing your job is bad, it's nothing compared to losing your liberty.

So this article aims to keep you on the right side of the Law while still allowing you and your friends to enjoy a sociable night out.

Walk to the venue.
A bit obvious perhaps. Or is it? A friend with a distinctive car called into the pub every night on his way home from work. The pub was very close to his home and every night he drove the quarter mile home until one night when the Police were waiting outside his house. Most traffic police cars are linked to the DVLA so they only have to type your registration number into their system to find the address of the registered keeper. If you and your friends live close enough to the pub or restaurant walking is a great idea. It will help to increase your fitness and keep your licence.

Cycle to the pub.
Being found drunk in charge of a bicycle is an offence that carries a fine, but does not disadvantage your driving licence, or car insurance, in the same way that points or a ban would do. Be very careful riding home, especially after dark and make sure you are showing the correct front and rear lights. Wherever possible, choose a quiet route home. It's no good going to all that effort to retain your licence if you get killed cycling home along a dual carriageway!

Get the bus.
We have a brilliant bus service and for a few pounds you can get a return ticket into town. When the last bus home is after midnight, there's plenty of scope for great social evening. However, you may not be so lucky in where you live and the further into the countryside you live the harder it's going to be to find a full service. If the last bus leaves for your home/village at 6.00pm, you may want to combine it with the next idea - take the bus into town and get a taxi back.

Get a taxi.
If you lost your licence for 12 months and lived 10 miles from your workplace you are going to be paying for just shy of 500 taxi rides going back and forth to work before you get your license back, unless you can catch a bus or get a friend to give you a lift. So why not spend out on just a few taxi rides to get you to the pub or restaurant and home again, if it means you can keep your precious licence?

Choose a nominated driver.
If driving is the only option, think about going as a group. Take it in turns for one of you to be the nominated driver who will not drink. The nominated driver arranges to pick the others up and drops them off at home, knowing that someone else will return the favour next time. A word of caution you can't get 15 people into a Ford Mondeo. Most cars are fitted with one seat belt per passenger and you will be fined if you have overloaded your car. In an accident, an unrestrained passenger is very dangerous to the other occupants even when they have their seatbelts on, so with a larger group of friends more than one nominated driver will be required.

About the Author:
Fran Derry works for F1, a leading Nottingham driving school. F1 covers the East Midlands, offering driving lessons in Leicester, Derby and Mansfield. F1 allows you to pick your own driving instructor from the profiles on the site; you can choose male or female instructors.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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