We make better drivers and riders

Summer, Summer, Summertime!

Blog post posted on 20/07/16 |
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Advice

From V Festival to garden BBQs, the UK summer season offers something for everybody. In many cases that’s booze. Here are some summer driving safety tips from, IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.

  • Be a Zero Hero! We recommend staying off the booze and take as much time providing a range of alcohol free drinks as you would choosing beers and wines for your BBQ or festival trip.
  • No means no! If you have been drinking or are potentially a passenger of a drunk driver, don’t be afraid to say no and get a cab or even walk.
  • The only cure is time. There is nothing you can do to speed up the process of alcohol leaving your system. Having a cup of coffee, glass of water, or a cold shower, won’t do anything at all to get rid of the alcohol.
  • Name and shame. If you notice someone about to drink and drive try reasoning with them or take their keys away, but if you see it is getting out of hand call the police. If you are at a festival, tell someone who is marshalling - you could be saving several lives.
  • The penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink driving. Taking drugs can impair reactions, alter perception and judgement, slow decision making, reduce concentration and cause tiredness. It also can affect attitudes increasing confidence, taking risks and, more aggressive behaviour. For prescription and over the counter medicines always read the label.
  • If you have been drinking all weekend then it is quite likely that you will be unfit to drive for the whole of the day following the festival. Get a lift - it’s what parents were designed for. J

Richard said “You as a driver or passenger are in control. Be firm but pleasant, even though people won’t always listen. Look out for your friends, stay safe and enjoy the summer.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. Richard Gladman is IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards.
  2. IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com

Media contacts:

Further information from:

IAM RoadSmart press office – 020 8996 9777 

press.office@iam.org.uk / www.iamroadsmart.com

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On Twitter: @IAMRoadSmart 

ENDS ALL