WITH Christmas festivities in full swing around Gloucestershire people are warned that time is the only effective way to get alcohol out of their systems.

Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership is reminding all drivers to think about the amount of alcohol still in their bodies the morning after drinking and to consider the time it takes for the alcohol to leave their systems.

The Gloucestershire County Council partnership are warning people to not risk driving too soon to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for road safety at Gloucestershire County Council said: “We know people are usually very good at ordering a taxi for their night out but many don’t realise just how much alcohol can be left in their system the next morning, and some get behind the wheel too soon.

“We want more people to be aware that if they feel unwell the morning after a night’s drinking, it’s probably because of the excess alcohol in their system. Our message is don’t ever risk it or the devastating consequences of drink driving could change your life forever.”

One unit of alcohol takes the body an hour to break down.

This means, for example, a person that drinks three large (250ml) glasses of wine (15% alcohol) before midnight should not drive for 13 hours - that’s 1pm the following day.

Chief Inspector Charlie Laporte, lead for road safety said: “Last year 213 people died or were seriously injured on the county’s roads. That’s 213 families, communities and work places affected by somebody making a simple mistake.

“On top of that there were over 1000 failed breath tests on our roads – many of which were the morning after a night of drinking.”

For more information visit: roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk.