Drink and Drug Driving

Around 10 people are killed and 50 seriously injured in drink drive crashes every week.  It is not just the drivers who suffer, but often their passengers, people in other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists and the families of everyone involved. 

Every year, about 90,000 people are convicted of drinking and driving, and face a ban of at least 12 months, a large fine and possible imprisonment. 

The Morning After
Many drink drivers are caught the morning after they have been drinking.  As it takes several hours for alcohol to disappear from the body, someone who was drinking late the previous evening could easily still be over the limit on their way to work the next morning.  Even if under the limit, they still may be affected by the alcohol in their body. 

Medicines and drugs

Driving while unfit through drugs, whether illegal or prescribed or over the counter medicines, is an offence that carries the same penalties as drink driving.  The Police can, and do, conduct roadside tests to help them assess whether a driver may be impaired.

What employers should do:

  • Review your workplace drug and alcohol policy to see how it can encompass driving.  HSE guides ‘Drug Misuse at Work’ and ‘Don’t Mix it: A guide for Employers on Alcohol at Work’ are available free from www.hse.gov.uk
  • Consult staff about the organisation’s policies on alcohol, drugs and safe driving.  Make sure this is reviewed periodically in joint health and safety meetings. 
  • Expect safe driving.  Ensure all staff, including managers and directors, understand that everyone who drives for work must be fit to do so at all times.  All managers should lead by personal example and follow the organisation’s policy.
  • Set clear rules.  In particular, ensure that all staff, including senior managers and line managers, understand that they must not drive for work if their ability to do so safely is affected by alcohol, drugs or medicines.  Doing so should be a serious disciplinary matter.  Don’t allow alcohol or drugs to be consumed by staff on duty, even for example, if they are entertaining clients.  Advise staff not to drink at lunchtime especially if they re driving later. 
  • Raise awareness as a part of recruitment, training and staff appraisal, ensure that drivers and their line managers, are reminded about:
    • The law about drinking and drug driving
    • The effects of alcohol on driving and the morning after
    • The effects of drugs and medicines on driving
    • The organisations policy on these issues
    • What to do if they feel driving might be affected
    • The help that is available to staff with drink or drug problems
  • Advise staff on how to avoid drinking and drug driving by:
    • Arranging for someone else to drive if they themselves are going to be having a drink, take public transport or stay overnight.  (Be aware of the morning after)
    • Check if there is a warning on the drug/medicine packet they are taking (but do not just rely on this) Ask a pharmacist or doctor if the medicine might affect their driving, and if so, whether there is a safer alternative. 
  • Staff also need to be aware of the legal, financial and bad PR consequences of crashing due to impaired driving.
  • Provide Training on drink and drug driving.  Train manager to be able to spot the signs of possible drug and alcohol abuse. These include:
    • Sudden mood or behavior changes
    • Irritability or aggression
    • Worsening relationships with colleagues and others
    • Impaired job performance
    • Increase in poor time keeping
    • Short term sickness absence (these signs do not necessarily mean a drink or drugs problem, but may be an indication that help is needed)
  • Record and investigate crashes and incidents.  Require staff that are involved in a work related crash, including damage only incidents, to report it to their line manager.  This enables where practicable, an investigation to be conducted to determine whether the driver’s fitness was a contributory factor and what if and action is necessary to prevent repeat occurrences.  Keep the organisations insurer confirmed.
  • Require drivers to notify drink and drug related offences.  Require drivers who have been cautioned, summoned, or convicted in relation to dug or alcohol offences to inform their lien manager so that a discussion can take place about whether they need help to ensure they do not drive while impaired. 

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