Lawyer issues warning on drink driving risks

In light of outdoor hospitality reopening across the country, a Birmingham motoring defence expert is calling on residents to think carefully before being tempted to get behind the wheel.

Manjinder Kang, of motoring defence solicitors Kang and Co in the city centre, is warning that there could be an unintentional increase in drink driving offences as lockdown rules are relaxed.

The motoring legal expert made comments following statistics from a Freedom of Interest (FOI) request which showed only a 39 per cent reduction in drink driving offences in the West Midlands during lockdown from March to December last year, when people were ordered to stay at home due to the pandemic, compared with the same period in 2019.

Manjinder (pictured), who has represented a number of cases across the country during the pandemic, said he believes the stress of lockdown and job insecurities due to Covid-19 unfortunately saw drink driving cases remain high despite a drastic reduction in the number of vehicles on the road.

Talking of his experience a father-of-two, who is one of a number of people Manjinder has represented recently, says a momentary lapse in judgement had devastating consequences for his family last year.

Originally from the West Midlands the man, who wished to remain anonymous but wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of drink driving, works as a restaurant manager in Peterborough and was caught drink driving after having a drink at work.

“It was the first and definitely the last time I will ever do anything like that, ” he said.

“For the first few months I couldn 't sleep. I felt ashamed and embarrassed and it has put a lot of pressure on my wife as I now can 't help with school runs or shopping and have to rely on the train to commute between Cardiff and Peterborough. ”

Completing a drink driving awareness course, he has been banned from driving for 12 months and had to spend 80 hours making face masks as community service.

In England the drink drive alcohol limit for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood; 107mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Motoring defence expert Manjinder said: “Many people aren 't aware of the severity of the penalty that comes with drink-driving or even the fact that you can still be over the limit the next day even after moderate alcohol consumption. It is sometimes a momentary decision that has ongoing consequences.

“If you plead guilty, or are found guilty of drink driving following a trial, the minimum sentence a court can impose is a driving ban of 12 months. ”

Manjinder added: “Depending on the alcohol reading and any aggravating circumstances the driving ban can also go up to 36 months or even a six month prison sentence for a first offence.

“If you have a previous drink driving conviction within the last 10 years, the minimum driving ban a court will impose rises to between 36 and 60 months and again depending on the circumstances you risk a prison sentence as well.

“Any driving ban can also be accompanied by a fine and community service. ”