Tag: drink driving

A Sobering Warning: Drunk Van Driver Caught with Child on Toolbox

Posted on by News Desk

Introduction

The consequences of drink-driving can be severe.

A recent case in Shrewsbury is a stark reminder of the dangers it poses.

Police caught a van driver with a child sitting on a toolbox in the back of his van.

The driver was more than twice the legal limit for alcohol consumption.

Caught In The Act

Police stopped the van driver on Hereford Road in Shrewsbury on January 14th while he was driving a Vauxhall Vivaro.

Upon inspection, officers found there were no seats or seat belts in the back of the van where a child was sitting on a toolbox.

The lack of proper seating and the driver’s alcohol impairment endangered the child’s safety.

A Reminder Of The Dangers Of Drink-Driving

A breath test showed that the van driver had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath.

This is more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

This alcohol level could have caused blurred vision, slower reactions, and impaired judgment, all critical for driving.

At Telford Magistrates’ Court, the van driver pleaded guilty to two charges.

Namely drink-driving and using a motor vehicle in a manner that could cause danger to passengers.

As a result, he received an 18-month driving ban, which he can reduce by 18 weeks if he completes a course by February 2024.

The court fined him £120, ordered him to pay £135 in costs, and imposed a £48 surcharge.

The incident highlights the dangers of drink-driving and the importance of adhering to safety regulations and standards while driving.

The presence of a child in the back of the van further compounds the risk posed by the driver’s irresponsible behaviour.

The lack of seats and seat belts in the van made the child more vulnerable to injury or harm in the event of an accident.

Putting Passengers At Risk

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and standards while driving.

Drivers must prioritise their safety and their passengers’ safety and avoid taking unnecessary risks,

such as drunk driving, which could result in severe consequences.

Additionally, drivers must ensure that their vehicles are appropriately equipped with necessary safety measures,

such as seats and seat belts, to protect their passengers in case of an accident.

Conclusion

Drink-driving is a reckless behaviour that poses a significant risk to road users.

The case of this van driver highlights the dangers of drink-driving,

especially when children are involved.

It is essential to prioritise the safety of all road users by avoiding reckless behaviour.

Adhering to safety regulations and standards,

and ensuring that vehicles are appropriately equipped with necessary safety measures.

And remember, drink driving can affect your insurance policy.

Driver Caught On M4 Driving Van Without Tyres Blames Covid And Alcohol

Posted on by News Desk

Ever Seen A Van Missing Tyres?

Imagine this:

You’re driving along the motorway at night.

Suddenly, you spot a van… with missing tyres.

That’s exactly what happened on the M4 recently.

A Night Out Gone Wrong

The driver?

He’d been out with friends, had a few drinks (maybe a few too many), and then decided to drive home.

Where did my tyres go?

How do you not notice you’re driving on rims?

We can only guess.

The driver was, in fact, almost twice over the legal alcohol limit.

So, perhaps that had a little something to do with it.

Driving on Rims? No Problem, Apparently…

But this driver didn’t stop.

Instead, he kept going.

Ten miles on the rims!

A concerned driver eventually noticed and promptly alerted the police.

Fortunately, since it was the early hours, the roads were quiet with far less traffic around.

Pulled Over by Police

When police pulled him over, they gave him a breathalyser test.

The result?

Almost twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Blaming Covid for Poor Judgement

The driver admitted the charge, but he had an excuse.

He blamed his poor awareness on Covid.

He tested positive the next day, claiming it “clouded” his mind.

So he wasn’t fully aware of his decisions.

“Trying to Reach Safety” as a Defence?

His defence argued he was just trying to reach safety, as recommended by the Highway Code.

But what does it say about drinking and driving with two blown tyres?

Maybe common sense would have been a better guide.

The Prosecutor’s Response

The prosecutor wasn’t convinced.

They argued it was the alcohol, not Covid, clouding his judgment.

Nice try, though.

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Drink and Drive Being Encouraged?!

Posted on by News Desk

We thought that might spark your attention. What is this, you may well ask. You are aware, of course, that it is a criminal offence under Section 5(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to drink and drive and if caught, may result in an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence. So why is it being encouraged? Because we are talking about drinking WATER dear readers! Phew. That’s cleared that one up then.

Did you know that if you fail to top up your own water tank before embarking on a long distance journey, you could end up with a hefty fine (up to £1000)? Why? Well, it’s pretty much down to the fact that when you become dehydrated, your body experiences symptoms that are similar to the effects of alcohol in the bloodstream (dizziness and loss of focus), which could then lead to you not having full control over your van. Dehydration also causes headaches and this may hinder your concentration levels, very much the same way alcohol does.

All that just because you didn’t drink enough! Silly really, isn’t it. You know that before a long journey, you check your van’s oil and water – why wouldn’t you check your own? Ok, not necessarily oil although up to you if you use oil, but definitely water. Being hydrated and staying hydrated throughout the journey will ensure your concentration levels are at their best, ensuring not just your safety but other road users too.

Considering 3 out of 5 people were not aware of these risks and how they compare to the other type of drink driving, it really is worthwhile making sure you drink before, during and after a long drive. You’ll probably have to factor in a few stops along the way, but you should be doing that anyway, right? Then you can safely top up your water levels and get right back to your journey, in the knowledge that you won’t become dehydrated anytime soon.

Oh and just in case you’re thinking “but I always take my flask of tea/coffee, so that counts” read more here on that topic. In the meantime, no watered down deals here, just cheap van insurance deals. Simply begin by completing this quick 3-minute form.

Car Calamities and Doggy Disasters

Posted on by News Desk

So, we’ve spent the past few weeks here warning you about the uptick of idiot drivers on the roads as lockdown eases (day 98 and counting), but it seems it’s not just the members of the great British public who are at it, you lot are having your own fair share of accidents too.

Let’s start in Lancashire, whose police force are currently without their drone unit, thanks to a red van driver who failed to stop and rammed into the police unit before making off. Thankfully he didn’t get far and has been arrested and is awaiting further action.

Meanwhile, a van driver up in Wakefield will be praying his van insurance is the best he could buy, after crashing into the back of a car which was awaiting roadside assistance on the M1. Except it wasn’t just any car. Oh no. The car in question was a Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, which was just 20 minutes old, having just been collected by its new proud owner, before running into mechanical issues and was awaiting assistance. 

Ouch.

Who doesn’t like to take their dog to work? Especially now, given that social distancing in vans means there is more space for our four-legged friends to join us on our day to day adventures. Although with it comes a great responsibility, especially in hotter weather. If you are going to take your dog along, don’t do what a Wilshire van driver did, and leave his Springer Spaniel in the van with the windows closed for over an hour. Seeing the dog was in distress, luckily the police were on hand to break the van window and give the dog some much-needed water. The van driver however, on returning to his vehicle was less than impressed with the police, ‘not seeing a problem’ with leaving his dog in a hot van. Thankfully, this has earned him a referral to the RSPCA. 

DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN YOUR VAN IN THE SUMMER.

It’s that simple. If they are coming to work with you, it’s your responsivity to make sure that they are well taken care of and not left unattended by you. Otherwise, you are likely going to be better leaving them at home.

One final thing – we expect an uptick in drink driving this weekend when people flood back to the pub, so if you are out, stay safe, and if you are going to the pub – don’t drink and drive, and don’t leave your dog in the van. It’s really not so hard.

Cracking down on drink driving the American way

Posted on by News Desk

VAN INSURANCE NEWS ROUNDUP: 7 DAYS ENDING 20 MARCH 2015:

The Americans think they’ve sussed out how to crack down on drink driving in the United States – and surprisingly it doesn’t involve shooting anyone.

According to a report in Reuters, a new push towards fitting devices in new cars for sale in the US could possibly cut back on something like 85 per cent of alcohol related deaths. The new initiative could end up not only saving tens of thousands of lives, but it could also result in major savings in the form of injury-related costs and even car insurance or van insurance premiums.

So there’s no saying when or if such an initiative would make its way across the pond here, but the Yanks seem to think that fitting cars with alcohol interlocks is one of the best way to stop drink driving. In fact, the American Journal of Public Health thinks using brand-new tech to prevent cars and vans from being driven could stop more than 59,000 fatalities, more than one and a quarter million non-fatal injuries, and something like $340 billion in medical and court costs.

Fitting cars with interlocks after drink driving offence is a good way to keep people off the road that you know are miserable drunks, but it doesn’t do anything for those that fly under the radar – or for first offences. This is why the idea of making new interlock technology standard on new cars makes it a much better option in preventing drink driving completely – or at least much more effectively.

Honestly it sounds like a brilliant idea, especially if it’s adopted across all 50 states and not just a few here and there. If it proves effective, it could easily be brought across to other countries – and with drink driving a threat wherever you go and whoever you might be it’s probably not such a bad idea to get it over here in the UK. I don’t know about you but I know a few blokes that like to go down to their local and have a few pints in the evenings, only to attempt to motor home even though they’re three sheets to the wind, simply because they can’t be arsed to take public transport – or they think they can “handle it.”

Yes, well that’s all well and good until you get nicked for drink driving isn’t it? And you better hope you’re stopped by the police instead of wrapping yourself around a tree or striking some poor bicyclist or pedestrian.

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