Community safety
Tips for car drivers
We all share the road and with that comes risk. Take a look at the top tips to help you stay safe.
Keep yourself safe
- wear a seat belt halves the chance of you losing your life. Make sure your passengers do too
- leave plenty of time. 49 per cent of collisions happen when driving to, from or during work
- make sure your vehicle is safe to drive
- don’t drive if you’re tired. Research shows it’s impossible to stop yourself falling asleep at the wheel. Include 20 minute breaks every two hours.
- look out for upcoming bends, hidden dips, blind summits and concealed entrances. Brake before the bend, not in it, to reduce the risk of skidding
- allow more time to brake on wet, slippery roads. It takes twice as long to stop on wet roads and 10 times longer on icy roads
Make the right decisions
Stay off your phone
Using a mobile phone when driving increases the chances of a crash by four times. Drivers who message are over 20 times more likely to crash.
Keep your mobile phone out of sight and set it to 'do not disturb'.
Drive safely
- don’t drive too fast. It reduces the chance of you stopping or avoiding a crash. Those extra couple of moments could make all the difference
- drive slow and wide when passing more vulnerable road users such as horse riders, cyclists and walkers
- check before you open your door into the road or onto the pavement - make sure your passengers do too
- don’t drink alcohol - even a small amount seriously reduces reaction time
Driving the morning after
Make sure you’re not still over the limit – time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system. Drinking coffee, sleeping or having a shower does not work.
The table below is a guide only. View our leaflet - Should I drive the morning after? (5.3 MB) - for more guidance
| Large glass of wine (13%) | Pint of beer (4%) | Single spirits (40%) | Alcopop (5%) | Double spirits (40%) | Lager (5%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.5 hours | 2.5 hours | 1.5 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| 2 | 7 hours | 5 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | 6 hours | 5 hours |
| 3 | 10.5 hours | 7.5 hours | 4.5 hours | 6 hours | 9 hours | 7.5 hours |
| 4 | 14 hours | 10 hours | 6 hours | 8 hours | 12 hours | 10 hours |
| 5 | 17.5 hours | 12.5 hours | 7.5 hours | 10 hours | 15 hours | 12.5 hours |
Older drivers may need to make adjustments
By changing the way we drive just slightly, driving can remain an option for years to come. Consider the following:
- reaction times get slower – so make sure you leave a bigger gap to give you more time to stop
- driving can be more stressful – allow more time for your journey and take regular breaks
- eyesight and hearing may not be as sharp – get them checked regularly. Avoid driving at twilight or in the dark because as
- we age our eyes react more slowly to changes in light levels
- agility decreases – if you struggle to twist round to see your blind spot, fitting a ‘blind spot’ rear view mirror can help
Don't rush decision-making - take your time!
Take a look at stillsafetodrive.org.uk for tips and advice to help decide whether it’s still safe to drive.
Keep up to date with the highway code
It’s worth checking to make sure whether there are new traffic laws and road signs.