Debbie Floyde, Bauer Fleet Manager issues an important warning to fleet drivers: 'Make sure your drivers drive safely and check their vehicles are roadworthy and legal'.

Driving is risky business at the best of times and, with icy roads, winter weather and the party season being upon us, the risks of driving increase profoundly. Here are Floyde's tips:

Driver checklist - General driving and bad weather

  • Ensure that tyres have adequate tread depth ( should be at least 2mm, ideally 3m) and are inflated to the recommended pressure ( this will assist your fuel economy)
  • Check lights and wipers to ensure functional
  • Clear windscreen and mirrors BEFORE driving
  • Ensure the vehicle is fully maintained in accordance with manufacturers instructions
  • In bad weather consider whether your journey is absolutely necessary
  • Plan your journey and try to stick to major routes
  • Inform someone of your intended route and anticipated arrival time
  • Use your lights when visibility is reduced
  • Drive slowly and be aware of other road users at all times


Drink Driving - The message is simple - DON'T DO IT

It 's all about Timing and the following will explain how long it will take to be alcohol free after drinking! Nearly 1 in 6 convicted drink-drivers are caught the morning after drinking. 

How much have you drunk, when did you stop drinking, and when do you plan to drive? It’s not just about being under the limit, it’s about being alcohol free. Even small amounts of alcohol affect your reaction times. 

On top of the times given below, you need to add an hour. This is how long it takes for alcohol to be absorbed into your blood stream. The times below are only rough guides. It depends on factors including how healthy you are and how much you’ve eaten. Eating a big meal means alcohol is absorbed more slowly - so it takes longer to sober up.

*The advice below are a guide only!

Drink DrivingPINTS OF BEER OR CIDER
4% beers and ciders
Average strength beers and ciders like Fosters and Guinness are 2 hour pints. Each pint takes at least 2 hours to leave your blood stream from when you stop drinking.

5.5% beers and ciders
Stronger beers and ciders like Stella, Kronenberg and Strongbow are 3 hour pints. Each pint takes at least 3 hours to leave your blood stream.

Drink 4 pints of Stella and you can’t drive for at least 13 hours from finishing your last pint. If you finish at midnight, you aren’t safe until after 1pm the next day.

Drink DrivingBOTTLES
250ml – 330ml bottles of 5.5% beer
Becks, Bud and Stella bottles of this size and strength are 2 hour bottles.

Large 550ml bottles of beer
A large Stella orNewcastle Brown Ale in a 550ml bottle is a 3 hour bottle. Drink 5 bottles and you can’t drive for at least 16 hours. That’s 4pm the following day if you finish drinking at midnight.

275ml – 330ml alcopops
A standard Bacardi Breezer or Vodka Ice is a 2 hour drink. But bear in mind, it’s easy to drink a lot because they taste sugary,

Drink DrivingCANS OF BEER OR CIDER
A 3%-4% can of Carling or Fosters is a 2 hour drink. A 5%-5.5% strength can is a 2.5 hour drink.

SUPER STRENGTH CANS OF BEER OR CIDER
You can see why they have the reputation of being the favoured tipple of alcoholics. Cans such as Special Brew, Tennent’s Super and Strongbow Super can be TWICE as strong as a Fosters – a whopping 7.5-9%. A 7.5% can is a 3.5 hour drink. A 9% can is a 4 hour drink.

Drink 5 super-strength cans and you can’t drive for about 21 hours - almost a full day later.

Drink DrivingMEASURES OF SPIRITS
It doesn’t matter what mixer you use. The alcohol takes the same amount of time to leave your system whether your vodka’s just on ice or in a large glass of orange juice.

Pub measures vary. 25ml (one unit) used to be standard, but 35ml is now more common. A 25ml shot is a 1 hour drink. A 35ml shot is 1.5 hour drink. A70ml double is a 3 hour drink – the same as a pint of Stella.

Drink four 70ml doubles and you can’t drive for 13 hours – that’s 1pm the next day if you drank your last double at midnight.

If you are pouring spirits yourself at a party, you’ll probably pour generous doubles, triples or more. Take this into account when calculating your hours.

GLASSES OF WINE
There are several different wine glass sizes and wine comes in different strengths, from 12%-15%. One 250ml glass of 15% wine is a 4 hour drink. Drink a bottle of 15% wine - just three 250ml glasses - and you can’t drive for 13 hours - 1pm the next day if you finish at midnight.

BOTTLES OF CIDER
Big plastic bottles of cider mostly range from 3.5% to 8% and come in 1, 2 and 3 litre bottles. A litre of 3.5% cider is a 7 hour drink. Stronger ciders take much longer to be out of your system. If you drink a litre of 8% cider, you won’t be safe to drive for about 16 hours.

Men v. Women
It takes exactly the same amount of time for women to lose alcohol from their blood stream as men. Their livers work at the same speed.

KNOW when you are next planning to drive. If it’s the next day, calculate the maximum you can drink using this guide and stay well under this.

KNOW what you are drinking. If you drink a weird cocktail your mate’s invented with two doubles in it, it will take you at least seven hours more to sober up. That’s a big forfeit.

AVOID unknown drinks altogether. It keeps you in control, it’s usually cheaper, and helps you avoid a killer hangover.

KNOW WHAT YOU DRINK. DRINK WITHIN YOUR HOURS.

If anyone has any driver related problems or queries they should be able to contact you, the fleet manager.  
I would like to wish you all a Happy and safe Christmas and new year and please drive carefully.