Here Are 5 Important Reasons Why You Shouldn't Drink and Drive
Drink driving is still a prevalent issue here in Australia, many know the dangers yet still take the risk and get behind the wheel after a few too many drinks. It’s simply not worth it, and here are 5 important reasons why.
You could hurt someone or yourself
Driving while under the influence of alcohol can negatively affect your brain, senses, and your motor function. It impairs your vision, your ability to concentrate and react quickly, and clouds your judgement which encourages risk-taking behaviour. Driving in this condition not only puts your life in danger but also those around you. A seemingly harmless mistake can have life-long consequences that you can’t take back. If you hit someone or cause an accident while over the legal alcohol limit, you can be sued by the people involved to cover medical bills and damages relating to the incident. If someone dies, you’ll likely be charged with manslaughter at the very least. Drink driving car accidents are preventable in most instances, and you put so much on the line when driving drunk.
Part of your punishment may include a gaol term
Drink driving is considered a serious offence, and Queensland Magistrates take a tough stance on such charges. A gaol sentence may be on the cards if:
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You are a repeat offender.
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You have injured someone while driving.
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You’ve damaged property.
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You’re on probation and get caught drink driving.
A lengthy gaol term can be expected if your drink driving resulted in a fatality. If any of these apply to you, it’s best to seek legal advice. If you have been charged and convicted with a serious drink driving charge three times with five years, part of your penalty must include a gaol term. It’s non-negotiable.
You could end up with a criminal record
For people who’ve been charged with drink driving, receiving a conviction against their name is a major concern, and understandably so, it can have huge impacts on their future. Many employers require a criminal history check, and it can prevent you from travelling overseas. More serious drink driving charges are likely to have criminal convictions attached to them. It is at the discretion of the judge whether a criminal conviction is recorded or not.
You may be putting your employment at risk
If you need to drive to work or drive as a part of your job, losing your licence due to a drink driving charge can stop you from doing so. If you don’t have any way of getting to and from work, you may lose your employment or be stood down until your disqualification period has ended. Not being able to work for months on end can have huge repercussions, and some professions have zero tolerance for such charges and you may lose your job as a result. While you may be able to apply for a work licence, strict time limits apply for doing so. If you’ve been charged with a high range drink driving charge, you will not be eligible to apply for a work licence. For serious drink driving offences, disqualifications periods can be as long as two years. This not only affects work commitments but the ability to maintain a normal life. Driving to see friends or to go to the shops is off the cards.
You'll be out of pocket hundreds if not thousands of dollars
If you are found guilty or plead guilty to a drink driving charge, part of your penalty must include a disqualification period and a fine. The fines for drink driving don’t come cheap, they generally start at around $500 and work their way up into the thousands depending on the seriousness of your charge and whether you are a repeat offender or not. Not only that, but you may also have to pay legal costs if you appointed a lawyer, you’ll need to pay a fee to the court, and you’ll need to pay to renew your licence once your disqualification is lifted. If you’ve injured someone or damaged property, you will need to cover those costs too. Once you add all of this up, it can end up costing you thousands of dollars. Most don’t have that kind of money lying around, and if they do, they don’t want to be wasting it on hefty fines. This is another good example of why you shouldn’t drink and drive.
We’ve only touched on a few of the reasons why you shouldn’t drink and drive. Trying to save a few dollars on a cab or uber can land you in hot water. Most who’ve been caught drink driving assumed that they wouldn’t get pulled over. You might be lucky and get home safely without injuring yourself or someone else, but the risk of something going wrong is far too huge.
We hope this post has convinced you to reconsider next time you’re thinking of driving after having too many drinks. The cons of doing so far outweigh the pros. If you’ve already been charged with drink driving and need some advice, feel free to get in touch with our team of expert traffic solicitors here at Drink Driver Lawyer. We assist people in this situation daily, and we always strive to attain the best outcome possible given the circumstances. For more information, check out our website or contact us on (07) 39998661. We offer free consultations and quotes!
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