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It’s no secret that roads become far more hazardous during the winter months in many countries around the world. With road surfaces coated in snow, ice and frost it’s vital that motorists drive with extra care and attention whilst travelling in these conditions. If you have driven in icy conditions before you will notice the severe difference in the stopping distance and handling capabilities displayed by your car whilst driving on slippery surfaces, so with that in mind let’s look at some of the things you can do to stay safe behind the wheel this winter.

Before you get into your vehicle this winter, be sure to take all the extra precautions you can to ensure your car is ready to tackle the cold and frosty conditions. Winter wiper blades ensure that your windscreen will remain clear and able of giving you maximum visibility from inside the vehicle in extreme conditions; this is a great first step towards preparing your car for sleet and snow. Check you tyre pressure regularly, tyres have a tendency to lose air pressure during freezing conditions and will reduce grip and overall handling if left too long. There is a common belief that releasing air pressure from your tyres is a good way of increasing handling in icy conditions, this is not true and a dangerous move to make.

Whilst driving on snow or ice, it’s fair to say driving extremely slowly is a good idea. The cars overall stopping distance in these conditions can increase tenfold, so maintain a slow speed and greatly increasing the distance between you and the vehicle in front is a good way of preventing collisions with other vehicles. Use your car’s gears to slow down; the ‘engine braking’ is an efficient way of slowing your car down safely. Using heavy or sudden braking can cause skidding in icy conditions.

If there is thick snowfall, drizzle or sleet then be sure to use your cars headlights’ visibility can be greatly impaired during these conditions and keeping your headlights on helps other motorists to see you clearly.

The most useful tip for avoiding collisions this winter is to stay off the roads; driving for convenience in winter is a risky and unnecessary thing to do. If you cause an accident due to driving without due car and attention in these conditions, you could soon find yourself looking for motoring offence solicitors! If you can avoid using any form of motor transport then do so; even the most experienced drivers to not have a method for controlling a car completely on slippery surfaces such as snow sleet and ice. Only drive if you have absolutely no alternative, and certainly try to avoid lengthy trips on roads and motorways.

This road safety article was written by Daniel Travis – Brown on behalf of Just Motor Law Mototring Offence Solicitors

Related articles

• Drivers urged to use winter tyres (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• Tips on winter driving from top motoring expert Quentin Willson (etyres.co.uk)
• Fitting winter tyres won’t raise insurance premiums (money.marksandspencer.com)

Information on simple steps you can take to avoid getting a DWI

Although the best way to avoid a DWI conviction may be to limit or cut out drinking when you expect to be driving, there may be situations when driving or consuming alcohol is unexpected. By avoiding alcohol when you know you will be driving, you can escape the field sobriety tests that may result from any traffic stops and the presence of alcohol on your breath.

If you are stopped by law enforcement and have an alcohol level over the legal limit for your state, you can be convicted of a DWI no matter how many drinks you have consumed. The number of alcoholic beverages you have had can be deceiving because of the focus DWI laws place on the actual alcohol blood levels and whether you are over or under the limits. Depending on a variety of factors, the amount of alcohol you can consume without being over the legal limit to drive may be different for you than it is for someone else.

If you are stopped for any signs of impairment, such as weaving across lanes or not correctly following traffic signals or signs, and fail a field sobriety or breathalyzer test, you may be convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.

Even if you decide to drink, knowing that you may later be driving, a good way to avoid the complications of intoxicated driving or even being charged with a DWI is to limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages. Although the tolerances for alcohol can vary limiting your consumption to two drinks can usually help you stay beneath the blood alcohol level. Some examples of the drinks you may choose may include; a couple glasses of wine, two 12 ounce beers or two cocktails made with mixers and liquor. Although consuming a couple of drinks may keep most people under the legal limit your levels may vary. Although it may be difficult to tell what your blood alcohol level will be after consuming two drinks, most likely, you will remain under the level that could provoke a misdemeanor charge.

Although drinking may be on your agenda, there are several variables that may reduce or increase your chances of being over the legal limit. Your weight and build is one of those factors that can affect alcohol tolerance. Another factor is whether or not you have eaten and what types of foods you have consumed. Eating starchy or high fat foods while drinking alcoholic beverages has been shown in some cases to prevent you from becoming overly intoxicated by slowing the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream.

Another preventative measure that can help prevent a DWI is establishing a designated driver prior to reaching your destination or beginning the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Friends accompanying you or even another mode of transportation, such as a taxi, can save you time and money in the long run by helping prevent a DWI.

If you do indulge in too many drinks or feel like you are too intoxicated to drive, there are some simple tips that may help prevent the conviction of a DWI. Sitting in your vehicle, in the driver’s seat, with keys in the ignition can be enough for law enforcement to charge you with a DWI. If you need to sit in your vehicle, do so in the back seating, away from the driver’s seat so that it is very apparent that you do not plan to operate your car. Following some simple, common sense ideas can help you enjoy time out with

Greg Tsioros is a defense attorney in Houston that represents clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. Visit his website to learn more about his areas of practice.

Most of us are aware of just how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol or any type of drug or medication that might alter or impair our abilities to properly operate a vehicle. This same majority also realizes, although may not fully comprehend completely, the consequences of these actions should they be recognized by an officer of the law.

This knowledge however, often does little to waylay a large portion of drivers from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence. For some, it might be the reasoning that they have “only had a couple” that puts them behind the wheel. For others, impaired judgment due to the affects of their intoxication is the cause for their poor choice. Either way, sometimes planning the ways in which to be safe from a DWI is the best way to avoid it altogether since this preparation will force you to take into consideration the possibly unintended results your actions may have.

Be Prepared For the Worst

If you’re out drinking and driving, you should be prepared for the worst. While this by no means is meant as an endorsement of driving while intoxicated, it is an honest explanation of what you should be prepared to encounter or do should you choose to do so.

• Have your vehicle registration, proof of insurance and driver’s license available and easily accessible.
• Have the phone number to your lawyer or law office available if needed.
• Have a general understanding and be prepared to execute a police officer’s routine to test for the affects of alcohol (walking a straight line, reciting the alphabet, counting forwards and backwards, and similar tests).
• Plan your one phone call to make from jail. It is important to contact a qualified DWI attorney once you’ve contacted your family.
• Try to visualize what it will be like spending the night in a jail — drunk, cold, and among an element of people who you may not be used to associating with.

Know the Consequences

One way you might stay safe when it comes to driving while intoxicated is by using the knowledge of the consequences that might ensue from your actions as a deterrent. Here are a few of the possible results of driving under the influence, noting that the consequences of a DWI conviction can range in severity depending upon the state in which you live as well as whether you have had any previous DWI convictions.

• Arrest
• Loss of time at work or job loss
• Community service
• Jail time
• Suspension or loss of license
• Fines

Quick Tips to Stay Safe

Outside the typical “don’t drink” or “designate a driver” safety tips, there are other things you may do to increase your chances of being safe after a night out with friends.

• Going in with a pre-determined plan of who is drinking, how much, and who will be driving and where can help you stay on track when it comes to avoiding confusion that can lead to a DWI.
• If you end up drinking but find that you are in a safe and stable environment (a friend’s house, family members, or similar location), it might be better just to stay put if possible until you are safe to drive.
• Sometimes talking the talk, but not walking the walk works when it comes to drinking, and more importantly, not drinking. Pretending to drink, but not adding the alcohol, can give the impression that you are drinking without the results. Replacing vodka with water, whiskey with apple juice (Dean Martin supposedly used to do this during his stage routine), or a mixed drink with just straight soda are a few examples.
• Taking a phone number list along of cab companies, friends, and family members in the event you need to contact a sober ride can be a life saver. Sharing the location of this list with someone in the group you are out with might be a good idea as well just in case you overdo it and they need to contact someone for you.

Billy Skinner is a DWI attorney in Houston; that represents clients charged with DWI/DUI and all other alcohol related offenses. To visit his website devoted solely to DWI defense, go to http://www.dwiattorneyinhouston.com.

Suffering from alcohol addiction can be a harrowing experience for all involved. Whether you are a recovering alcoholic or currently undergoing an addiction rehabilitation program, you will know that an addiction not only affects yourself, but it also affects those around you.

One of the first steps (albeit clichéd in the eyes of some) is to admit to yourself that you have a problem. By doing this you are not only admitting to yourself that you have a problem, but you are also admitting to those around you that you need help and you are willing to reach out and kick the habit.

By enrolling in an alcohol rehabilitation program, you can surround yourself with the support and requirements you need to kick your alcohol addiction and recover from the experience and hardship that alcohol addiction can entail.

Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers

With over 3% of the US population suffering from alcohol addiction, it is of no surprise that there has been a surge in the number of self-admissions into alcohol rehabilitation centers in 2010.

Not only are these centers equipped to deal with the needs of their patients, they are also staffed by caring Doctors, Nurses and care assistants to help with the long road to recovery that many people endure.

Whilst there was once a time where alcohol addiction was shunned into the darkest corner and alcohol abusers often suffered on their own, it is no longer the case. With over 8,000 alcohol addiction clinics in the US alone, there has never been a more positive time in the field of alcohol rehab with success rates of recovery higher than ever.

Support for Alcoholics

With regular checkups, advice on hand 24/7 and a warm and friendly environment, an alcohol rehab center is the ideal environment to receive the care and support for an alcoholic –recovering or otherwise.

With the urge to have an alcohol beverage high on the requirements of an addict, it is of no surprise that surrounding yourself with other fellow sufferers has proved to be a fantastic morale booster for those looking to kick the habit and find the road to alcohol recovery.
As many recovering alcoholics will tell you, receiving the help and support of fellow sufferers has enabled them to not only progress with their recovery, but it has also allowed them to become part of a community and to pass on their advice & wisdom.

More Information

Whether you suspect you are an alcoholic or are currently looking for advice on how to resist the urges often experienced by a dependent of alcohol, check out the alcohol rehab blog for help, advice and information on addiction treatment centers near you.

More Information

Whether you suspect you are an alcoholic or are currently looking for advice on how to resist the urges often experienced by a dependent of alcohol, check out the alcohol rehab blog for help, advice and information on addiction treatment centers near you.

Alcohol Rehab is the hobby of Kenny, a UK born care worker interested in the recovery & care of alcoholics around the world

The penalties for underage drinking and driving can range in severity from state to state and increase with the number of instances. It is often hard as a teen, to put oneself in the frame of mind to envision the consequences of being caught impaired and behind the wheel of a vehicle. Due to the often held feeling of invincibility or invulnerability among teen drivers, there is a tendency to avoid considering the consequences of such actions. But the consequences of underage drinking and driving can be severe and long-lasting.

Here are a few tips on the penalties for underage drinking and driving and important tidbits that you may never had heard of or considered when it comes to the cost of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired even if you are underage. Often, half the battle of being safe when it comes to underage drinking and driving is to understand the severe consequences of being caught.

Possible Penalties and Consequences

Just because you’re young, doesn’t mean you’ll be getting off with only a slap on the wrist — in many cases, much the opposite in fact. You will likely still be facing a variety of stiff consequences for your actions even if you are underage and not legally intoxicated as defined by the law.

The following are some of the legal consequences of underage drinking and driving. The extent and severity of the following penalties can range from state to state and upon the number of prior convictions for impaired driving. It is also important to bear in mind that the simple transportation of alcohol by minors could result in severe penalties as well.

• Fines

• Drivers license suspension

• Community service

• Drivers license revocation

• Alcohol awareness classes

• Possible imprisonment

Parental Consequences

It isn’t just you as an underage drinker who may be facing severe consequences should you be pulled over while operating a vehicle with alcohol in your bloodstream. You could get your parents or other adults into a tight squeeze as well. If it is found that an adult has provided you with alcohol, he or she could also be facing hefty fines and even time in jail.

Further Information

Beyond the legal ramifications of underage drinking and driving, there are other consequences to consider as well, which could waylay your desire to operate a vehicle after drinking. There may be severe societal consequences of your actions such as:

• Blemish to your personal image or reputation

• Damage to your record which could result in inability to obtain certain jobs

• Guilt/remorse

• Embarrassment

• Damage to social life due to inability to drive

Conclusion

When it comes to safety and drinking and driving, sometimes promoting the previously unrealized consequences to particular actions is the best way to drive a point home. There are very few good tips for underage drinking and driving and safety, since the two don’t go hand-in-hand. The best tip is not to pair the two actions, and probably the best way to enforce this action is by fully recognizing the ramifications of what may happen should you choose to do so.

Billy Skinner is a criminal lawyer in Houston that represents clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. To visit his criminal law blog or learn more about his areas of practice, go to http://www.billyskinnerlaw.com.

We all love to have a tipple over the Christmas holidays and to toast in the New Year. Many people knowing that they will be drinking alcohol in the evening arrange to take taxis home to ensure that they are not drink driving.

You could still be drunk in the morning!

Lots of people forget that you can still be over the legal limit to drive when you wake up the next morning, even if you feel fresh as a daisy there is no guarantee that you are safe to drive.

Breathalyser tests getting more common in the morning

This is a huge risk, to help improve road safety and to try and raise public awareness of this problem the police are pulling over more and more cars in the morning and giving the drivers a breathalyser test. Many people who get pulled over in the morning are completely unaware that they could be over the limit and would have certainly decided to make alternative arrangements for travel had they realised. The problem is that it takes longer than most people think for the alcohol to get out of your system and you can’t tell if you are still over the limit by the way you feel. You may wake up feeling all fresh and rejuvenated but that is no guarantee that you are safe to drive. It really is a big problem, people who would not dream of purposely stepping behind the wheel whilst under the influence are accidentally drink driving, they are posing a threat to themselves and other road users and also putting themselves at risk of being stopped and potentially loosing their license.

How can I tell if I am still drunk?

One way to make sure that you are safe to drive is to buy a home breathalyser. That way you can test yourself in the morning before you set of to make sure that you are safe to drive. As technology has advanced home breathalysers have come down in price and are an affordable solution. While you could argue that your safety is worth any price, especially at this time of year it is good to know that you can get hold of a home breathalyser with out breaking the bank.

How do I know the home breathalyser is reliable?

There are many different breathalysers on the market but they vary a lot in accuracy, and lets face it, this is not the kind of test you want to risk having incorrect results from. One of the most popular manufacturers of home breathalysers on the market is Alcosense. They came first for accuracy when tested by the team at Fifth Gear, Channel Fives popular motoring programme.

If you want to know more you can read about the tests they carried out and watch the breathalyser test video.

The myth:

Breathalyser tests can be beaten

So people believe that if you’ve been out drinking and have had a bit too much that if you get pulled over for a breathalyser test you can beat it. One way that some people believe you can beat the breathalyser test is to suck on a copper coin.

What’s the theory:

The copper in the coin creates a chemical reaction with the alcohol in your saliva. This is supposed to cause an inaccurate breathalyser reading allowing you to cheat the test.

So can you beat the breathalyser?

Nope sorry, even the idea of the copper coin is untrue. Most coins are made from other metals. A breathalyser test actually measures your blood alcohol content by measuring the alcohol level of the air deep within your lungs. It doesn’t measure the level of alcohol in your saliva.

Nowadays, the authorities are relying more on breathalyser tests in their widespread campaign against drunk driving.  They find it accurate and reliable in establishing guilt among offenders for filing of cases in court.  Not only is the law enforcement agency benefited from this system but also the violators themselves.

When asked what they would prefer to have in alcohol testing, these apprehended persons would of course prefer the breathalyser test rather the painful extracting of blood in their veins for alcohol content testing.  Any amount of alcohol found in excess of 0.08 per cent is considered intoxicated, and can be subject for legal prosecution.

Today, a lot of breath analysis machines are available in the market whether for use by police officers or for personal.  The most commonly used brands by traffic officers are Intoxilyser 5000 and its older version which is Tutoxilyser 4011.  However, all these types of mechanisms depend on infrared spectroscopic method of alcohol testing.

The breathalyser works in a different way through a technique called wet chemical analysis.  The principle involved in infrared spectroscopic testing is the absorption of light waves by the vapor of alcohol that goes inside the chamber.  If more light is absorbed, that means more alcohol is present.

In simple terms, the presence of more light in the chamber means that there is little absorption made by alcohol content taken from breathalyser test is considerably lesser.  While alcohol testing produces accurate results, makers of these machines are encouraged to check and maintain them regularly to prevent any conflict that could lead to prosecution cases.

Serious doubts have been raised in court as to reliability of these machines to be used as legal instruments for prosecution.  Claims have been made that since the machine is based on the assumption that people have a common body temperature, a percentage of error can thus be committed.  This is because the body temperature of a human being can create a difference in the result of testing.

Another point of argument is the premise that the amount of water in the body of human beings is the same.  Since alcohol can be diluted by water, then, the water content can disrupt the accuracy of results in breathalyser test.  Whatever is the argument raised by intoxicated drivers however, it points to the objective of safe driving on the road rather than consent the danger of driving with excess liquor.

In the course of notoriety in intoxicated driving, the launching of Breathalysers has become a phenomenal achievement in safeguarding the streets from drunk drivers.  The advanced technology used in the production of these machines is extremely convincing that made several institutions that require alcohol testing use it such as schools, hospitals, military and law enforcement agencies.

Breathalyser is easy to setup; all you have to do is put the batteries inside, use a straw and turn-on the power.  There are 3 buttons on the unit; a single-power button and 2 for navigating the menu and testing.  After warming-up for 10 seconds, the machine is ready to start.  There are default options which are used for 90 per cent result on alcohol testing.

You will find it simple and easy to navigate the menus and find different options that you can fine-tune for different environments.  The most important option is the alarm point which is set at .020 per cent BAC.  When the result of alcohol testing is above this point, you will hear the sound of an alarm.

Blowing is set at 5 seconds to start.  If you cannot blow within 5 seconds, then, this option can be adjusted.  The Breathalyser is equipped with a fuel-cell sensor for accuracy and reliability in reading.  This sensor is specifically designed to eliminate inaccurate results.  You don’t need technical expertise in operating this simple device.

Even students who have knowledge in simple calculator or cellphone operation can handle it because of its user-friendly feature and quick operating procedure.  Within seconds after blowing into the mouthpiece, you can immediately obtain stunning result.  Once the power of your unit is turned-on and the mouthpiece is opened, just press the test button and blow when the screen shows “start”.

Continue blowing until an alarm sounds.  After a few seconds, you can view the test result on the LCD screen.  When you have exceeded your limit in alcohol intake, an alarm sounds indicating the excess in limit.  What more, the Breathalyser is highly sensitive.  The result is given in 3 decimal places.

If you aim for an accurate result, you should undergo testing only without eating foods, drinking even water, or smoking 15 minutes before the actual testing.  These are the amazing features of Breathalyser that makes it a wonder product that even celebrities in Hollywood are clamouring to have.  With this device, they can protect their career from legal controversy and disruption.

Every person who drives a car should have his own home breathalyser in order to be safe from drunk driving.  This is necessary to test yourself if you can still drive with alcohol in your blood.  If you are used to drive with alcohol and this activity becomes a routine, perhaps you may not welcome the idea of having one.

But things happen beyond your expectation as a human being, and a single miscalculation on the road whilst driving your car can result in a serious accident.  Another thing is that not everyday is a lucky day for you.

You might realize that one day, a police officer flags down your car for reckless driving, and once he finds that you have gone beyond the limit of alcohol content in your body after conducting a breathalyzer test, that may become the start of your dilemma.  But if you have purchased your home breathalyser for personal use, you can be safe from the dangers of drunk driving.

When you drink alcohol, it is not digested in your body but rather mix with your blood.  When alcohol starts to mix with your blood after drinking some bottles of alcoholic beverage, it will start to distort your ability to think properly and decide correctly whilst driving.  Alcohol destroys the efficient functioning of your brain, and when your blood rises as a result of excessive alcohol, you can become careless and inattentive to danger zones, as well as traffic signs and regulations.

When you become high from alcohol, you don’t care about details, right decisions and worse is, even your own safety.  The strength of liquor boosts your courage on the wrong direction that can lead you to a lifetime injury.  This is the exact reason why law enforcement authority prohibits any person from drinking under the influence of alcohol.

They know that human beings are subject to percentage of error anytime especially when drunk whilst driving.  A single bit of error can lead to a higher degree of consequences, not only to the driver but also to pedestrians.  If something happens to you on the road just because you scrapped the idea of buying your own home breathalyser for checking the alcohol content in your blood, it may be a very costly mistake that you have committed in your entire life.

A home breathalyser can be your most powerful tool in maintaining the right behavior and proper decisions whilst driving.