With the end of the school year and summer quickly approaching, HRM Partners in Policing want to remind drivers young and old alike about the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol.

Many people still wonder how many drinks they can have and still drive legally. This is especially true of young people who have less experience with alcohol.

The simple fact is that alcohol impairs both your cognitive and motor skills, and gambling with how many drinks you can have and still drive legally is not a risk worth taking. If you have to ask yourself whether you’re sober enough to drive, it almost always means you are not.

Below are important points to remember behind the wheel:

– You can be charged if you are impaired behind the wheel, even if you have not started to drive.

– If you know you will be drinking, plan not to drive.
– Drugs and alcohol together can combine to impair your driving even more drastically; ask your doctor or pharmacist about your prescription medication.
– Remember, fatigue and stress will also affect your ability to drive.
– You will lose your licence if caught driving under the influence.
– The Blood Alcohol Content limit in Nova Scotia is 0.08, and the police are diligent about taking action against impaired driving.
– No matter what you blow, if alcohol is determined to be a contributing factor in a collision, you could be charged.

“One drink can reduce your ability to concentrate and react to things that happen suddenly while you are driving,” says Cpl. Scott MacRae of Halifax District RCMP. “Police want to remind everyone about the importance of driving sober and alert.”

When someone drives drunk, they pose a risk to every innocent person and motorist on the road. If you believe a motorist is driving impaired, call 9-1-1 with the location, brief description, and licence plate number of the vehicle.

Source: http://www.bedfordbeacon.com/are-you-safe-to-drive