You and your vehicle - Personal safety advice

Don’t drink and drive

There is never any excuse for drink driving. If you drink and drive you not only place yourself at risk, but you could cause serious harm or even kill another person. If you’re unsure of your own personal limits or are in any doubt at all, don’t take the risk.

If you’ve had a drink the night before, don’t assume that you’re okay to drive the next morning. According to the NHS Choices website it takes about an hour for the body to break down one unit of alcohol BUT this is dependent on loads of different factors like a person’s weight, age, whether they’ve eaten or not etc. To learn more, visit the NHS Choices website.

If you’ve had a big night, chances are you’re over the limit in the morning so don’t take the risk.

To find out more about drink driving and to listen to the stories of two drivers caught under the influence, visit the DirectGov drink driving webpages.

Don't text and drive

No phone call or text message is worth risking your, your passengers or other road users lives for- FACT. Don't be tempted to send a quick text message even if your stuck in traffic or on a 'safe road' - there are no such things. This is something we at Safer Communities Torbay take very seriously as do Gwnet Police in Wales. To view the devestating effects using your phone whilst driving can have view Gwent Police Force's short You Tube film. Warning- this video contains some very graphic scenes that some views may find distressing.

Belt up

You are important. Always wear a seat belt. It may just save your life.

The consequences of not wearing a seat belt can be devastating. The DirectGov seatbelt pages have a short video clip about how travelling within the speed limit can still prove fatal to someone not wearing a seatbelt.  

It is the law to wear a seatbelt (that includes passengers as well as drivers).

If you’re pregnant and are not sure how to wear your seatbelt, the national ‘Think’ campaign has produced a handy leaflet which gives seatbelt and baby seat advice which you can download from the DirectGov seatbelt pages.

Tiredness

According to the DirectGov website, up to 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep related. Tiredness really can kill so remember to take a break.

For further advice about keeping yourself safe on journeys, visit the DirectGov fatigue pages.

Young drivers

When young people first pass their driving test they are often excited, independent and keen to show off their new driving skills to their friends. Like many things, good driving ability doesn’t just come with passing a test, experience is required. The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website states that statistically 17-24 year olds are more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision than any other age group.

Young women are more vulnerable and more young women die in the passenger seat than behind the steering wheel. A result often caused by young men trying to impress them.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are working in partnership with other agencies and members of our community whose lives will never be the same again because of road traffic collisions involving young people, to deliver Learn to Live.

Learn to Live are powerful and emotional events which aim to educate young people about dangerous and anti-social driving. To find out more visit the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service learn to live website.

If you’re a parent or guardian and want to talk to your child about their own driving or the driving of their friends, visit the Learn to Live website for information, advice and stories from real people.