Motor Lawyers Blog – Motoring News

A recent survey suggests that a high percentage of motorists could inadvertently commit road traffic contraventions purely because they do not recognise common road signs. Of those questioned by Tesco Car Insurance, the most common mistakes were:

	No motor vehicles allowed 26% thought this sign meant that all vehicles were allowed, which is in fact the exact opposite of the message.
	Road narrows 56% thought this road sign actually meant ‘dual carriageway ends’.
	Uneven road surface 28% wrongly identified this warning as the sign for a humpback bridge.

Although failure to comply with triangular warning signs would often go unpunished unless a further offence was committed, failing to comply with a traffic sign that gives an order can result in a fixed penalty of 3 points and £60 fine. Additionally, many local councils are now prosecuting motorists based on CCTV footage so there is an even greater risk of oversights resulting in punishment.

External Link
The Highway Code - Signs and Markings

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As part of the ongoing campaign against drink driving, the Police have released details of a recent study of “DIY” breath test kits. These devices, which have become increasingly popular over the last 12 months, range in price from as little as £3.50 to £16.00 and are intended to warn drivers on whether they are below the drink drive limit. However, the study suggests that of the devices tested, more than half were alleged to be inaccurate, indicating that a driver was safe when in fact the alcohol readings were above the legal limit. Further concerns were expressed as to the quality and longevity of the devices, which are currently unregulated.

Whilst the Police conceded that users of the devices did so with good intention, it was made clear that it would be unwise to rely upon same and certainly, it would not provide a defence in Court if a Police reading showed the driver was above the limit. Police are concerned that reliance upon such devices could provide drivers with a false sense of security and once again stressed that motorists should not drink any alcohol if intending to drive.

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Motor Lawyers would like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients and visitors to our website a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2009.

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December not only sees the Christmas season upon us, but the start of the now traditional drink drive campaign, which this year is aimed at discouraging party goers from the long held belief that one or two drinks will not put the driver over the limit. This message is perhaps long overdue, given that many motorists do monitor their drinking in the genuine belief that they will be OK to drive but commit the offence inadvertently, normally because they simply do not realise the strength of the average drink.

In particular, the alcohol content in beer has risen significantly over the last few years with both standard and premium lagers becoming stronger with the result that one small beer can often lead to a breath alcohol reading in excess of the legal limit.

Throughout the month, all Police forces will be targeting drink drivers and this year will also be collating data from every single person stopped, regardless of whether or not they are found to be above the limit. Although this additional information will be recorded to establish patterns and used for research only, another powerful message of the current campaign is that anyone arrested for drink driving will be treated as a “common criminal” and subject to finger printing, mug shots and DNA testing, drink driving being a “trigger offence” which the Police can use to check databases for other offences.

Likewise, anyone who commits any motoring offence during December is likely to be subject to a breath test, although another aspect of the campaign is aimed specifically at young male drivers who, government research suggests, form a significant group of potential offenders at this time of year.

Over the last few years the number of drug related driving offences has also increased, again particularly in the run up to Christmas so again, this will be a further element that the Police will be paying particular attention to.

Mandatory driving bans are imposed for any drink driving offence.

Related Legal Links
Drink Driving

External Links
Drink Driving Law
Driving Ban
Think! Drink Drive Campaign

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