A car expert has warned drivers about the most common mistakes made when driving in Europe ahead of the Euro 2024 final this weekend. With England’s victory allowing them to reach the final on Sunday, significant numbers of fans are expected to take to the roads across the European continent.
Darren Miller, of BigWantsYourCar.com, shared the concerns of drivers across the UK about the rise in arrests and fines related to common mistakes, especially during big events like the Euros, Birmingham Live reports. He said: “Celebrative events like the Euros often see an unfortunate rise in drink and drug driving incidents, as highlighted in the Transport for Greater Manchester report.
“During the Three Lions’ run in the World Cup there was a dramatic increase in the region, with 258 arrests for these offences last year, emphasising the importance of staying sober behind the wheel to ensure the safety of all road users.
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“The rules on drink driving in the UK are clear: it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has a lower limit of 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. Penalties for exceeding these limits include prison, fines and difficulty finding employment. It’s a high price to pay for a moment of recklessness.
“Failing to comply with drink driving laws can lead to serious consequences, including a criminal record, up to six months in prison, an unlimited fine and an automatic driving ban for at least one year. The best advice is to avoid alcohol altogether if you plan to drive,” he said.
“A common misconception is that sleeping helps you sober up faster, but alcohol levels don’t actually drop faster during sleep and the effects of alcohol can impair your ability to drive the next day. The only way to sober up is to give your body time to metabolize the alcohol.
“On average, alcohol leaves the body at a rate of about one unit per hour, but this can vary widely depending on factors such as size, gender, food intake and metabolism. While it is legal to have open containers of alcohol in your car, doing so is strongly discouraged for safety reasons. Police could interpret a backseat full of alcohol as a possible drunk driver, leading to delays and tests that could disrupt your journey.
“Exceeding a vehicle’s designated passenger capacity not only compromises safety, but can also result in fines of up to £100 for the driver or, in more serious cases, a two-year prison sentence. The potential distractions of overcrowded vehicles increase the risks of accidents, so it’s important that drivers respect passenger limits.”
