Author archives: Carl Millar

Cut Your Drink Driving Limit, Say Scots

9.12.2019 Carl Millar

It has now been 5 years since Scotland reduced its drink driving limit from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg. England and Wales remain at the 80mg limit, one of the highest drink driving limits in Europe. Only Malta has the same limit.

A survey conducted by AlcoSense found how 4 out of 5 Scots thought England and Wales should lower their drink driving limit to 50mg and come into line with them.

Interestingly, a third of those interviewed went further and thought the drink driving limit should be reduced to zero, in line with countries such as Hungary, Russia and the Czech Republic.

Figures also showed how two thirds of Scottish drivers would now not consider driving even after having a single drink.

“Based on these findings, the number of drivers on Scottish roads with alcohol in their system has significantly reduced”, comments Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of AlcoSense Laboratories.

“The risk of being in a fatal accident increases exponentially as blood alcohol levels rise – even if you are below the drink drive limit.

“With just 10mg (0.10‰BAC) of alcohol in your blood (one fifth of the Scottish limit) you are 37% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash*. Being under the legal limit does not mean unimpaired.

“With so many Scottish motorists converting to driving with no alcohol in their system at all, the roads are safer than before the law change.

“Motorists should either abstain completely or use an accurate personal breathalyser to check they are clear the following morning. Our top range products use the same fuel cell sensor as several UK and European police forces.

“However, although most Scottish motorists have adjusted their habits and now drive when completely clear of alcohol, the number of drink drive prosecutions has stayed relatively consistent over the last five years.

“This is because there will always be a hard core of motorists who drive under the influence, no matter what the law says – whether due to ignorance, arrogance, or social and addiction issues.

“The limit change will not have an effect on these drivers until they are caught – which requires the return of greater Police numbers, more breath tests and a well-funded and consistent anti-drink drive awareness campaign”.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Taxi Drivers Could Now Face On The Spot Drug Tests

4.12.2019 Carl Millar

It has been reported how Redditch taxi drivers may well be facing on the spot drug tests in the future under council proposals to tighten up licensing regulations.

The current method of testing taxi drivers has currently been put out to consultation and the response is thought to contain a number of changes.

Currently, Redditch taxi drivers need to pass an examination, which includes a drug test by a Redditch Borough Council approved medical practitioner. This test is then repeated every 5 years until the driver is 65, following which they are tested every year. Should the driver fail the medical test, the council can either suspend or revoke that driver’s taxi licence.

Some thoughts have been whether the 5 year test should only apply to those drivers between the age of 45 and 65, and whether the drug tests would be carried out with little or nor warning, or even on the spot.

Simon Wilkes, head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) which provides licensing services to the council, said: “As licence holders driving paying passengers on public roads, it’s important to assess that drivers are medically fit to drive hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.

“How that is done in Redditch is now under review, and the council is keen to hear from all interested parties on the proposed changes.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Text From The Passenger Seat Could Get You 6 Points

1.12.2019 Carl Millar

Yep, you read it right. We should all know by now of the dangers brought on my using mobile phones whilst we are driving. It is not that long ago when a number of high profile cases where drivers, using mobiles behind the wheel, caused the deaths of other road users. Following on from these cases, the law was changed and the penalty for being caught using a mobile phone behind the wheels increased to £200 and 6 penalty points.

Most people would think fair enough for those actually driving, but what about for people sat in the passenger seat?

Well, the answer is, if you are supervising a learner driver you take on the same responsibilities as if you were driving yourself. Therefore, if you are caught texting, or using your phone whilst you are sat beside a learner driver, you could well find yourself on the wrong side of the law and paying a hefty fine.

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, Neil Greig, stated: “Supervising a learner actually puts you in the driving seat so legally you must treat it in the same way as if you were behind the wheel.

“Learning to drive is stressful enough without a passenger beside you who is more worried about posting than parking.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

New Drivers Could Be Banned From Driving At Night

29.11.2019 Carl Millar

It has been reported how new initiatives could see new drivers banned from night time driving as part of a graduated licensing process.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has suggested that a new drivers licence would be expanded as their skill sets and safety awareness grows. Other than nighttime driving, other limitation could also include driving with passengers.

Driving charity Brake called upon the government to introduce such a scheme last year but plans were shelved on the basis of it affecting young people’s job and educational prospects.

However, the government have stated how 20% of new drivers are involved in a crash during their first year of driving and have stated they wish to see this number fall. The DfT has now said they will be making a study over the next 12 months on the effectiveness of graduated licence scheme.

It should be noted how the UK already has a graduated licence scheme in place for motorcycles with riders needing to be over the age of 21 and has already held a “standard A2” licence before being able to ride a bike of any size or power output.

The RAC said it supported plans to improve young drivers’ safety, but any graduated system needed to consider the needs of young drivers.

“Young drivers sadly are over-represented in road traffic collisions so we welcome plans to improve their safety,” said the RAC’s head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes. “Graduated driver licensing has the benefit of providing a more controlled environment when learning how to drive, however, this must be balanced so it does not disadvantage young drivers who need to use vehicles for night work.

“We certainly would welcome a minimum learning period, or indeed a minimum number of learning hours required, while there may also be merits in restricting new drivers from carrying some passengers at certain times of the day and possibly even having a stricter drink-drive limit for new drivers. But we would also encourage the government to look closely at providing incentives for the uptake of telematics-based policies for new drivers, and consider how any new rules governing new drivers can be effectively enforced.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Road Safety Action Plan Announced To Cut Road Deaths

26.11.2019 Carl Millar

The Road Safety Action Plan follows on from a number of projects outlined within the 2015 Road safety Statement, which included increased enforcements for drug driving and increased penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving.

The idea behind the plan is self-explanatory and one of the biggest initiatives is to increase penalty points for those not wearing seatbelt s whilst travelling. Figures form 2017 showed how 27% of road deaths were caused by people not wearing seatbelts and not properly secured within the car. Currently, those not wearing seatbelts are given an on the spot fine of £100.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “The UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but we are not complacent and continue to look at how we can make them safer.

“Today’s action plan is a key milestone in our road safety work and sets out the important steps we are taking to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said: “Far too many people are not wearing a seatbelt while travelling in a car, needlessly putting their lives at risk.

“Increasing penalties for people who disregard the simplest of way of protecting themselves is just one of a long list of actions this government is taking to help keep people safe on our roads.”

The plan is designed to improve road safety for all ages of road user, from the very young to the older driver.

For Children

A £225,000 grant has been awarded for a nationally accredited safety training program for retailers to help with parents when fitting child seats into a car. This comes are 70% of parent drivers admitted they had difficulty in fitting their child seat.
Research is to be commissioned into the effects of young people as pedestrians using handheld devices in road traffic situations.
Funding for research to help children with special needs and cognitive disabilities to support road safety.

For Young Adults

To encourage learner drivers to broaden their experience by using country lanes and night driving.
Research to determine the effectiveness of graduated driving licensing based on road safety.
The continual reinforcement of road safety messages surrounding drink driving, mobile phones, drug driving and passenger distractions.

For Adults

Investigations into the use of alcohol-lock devices to measure the alcohol level in a driver’s breath before allowing the car to start.
An increased focus on roads policing in conjunction with the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

For Older Drivers

An award of £50,000 for a digital platform to share data on how best to reduce road safety risks for older people.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said: “Graduated driver licensing (GDL) adds that all-important intermediate element between learner and full licence holder, and allows new drivers to build up their skills and experience over a period of time, using clearly-marked stages.

“Where versions of GDL are already in place, the reduction in young and novice driver collisions has been remarkable. For example, research from TRL shows that 16-year-old drivers in the USA who learnt to drive through GDL systems 15 years ago had 37 per cent fewer crashes than those who followed other systems.

“Elsewhere, following the introduction of GDL in New Zealand, injuries from road traffic collisions reduced by almost a quarter for 15- to 19-year olds.

“GEM believes a graduated driver licensing system should be implemented across the UK without delay and should include the following key components:

a minimum learning period of 12 months before taking a practical test
drivers should hold ‘novice’ status for two years after passing the test
a ban on novice drivers carrying passengers aged under 25
a night-time driving curfew, unless driving to or from work
automatic disqualification for any driving offence”

Mike Brockman, the former CEO and founder of insurethebox who says: “Limits on passengers is a good idea but night-time curfews kill. If you put young drivers under time pressure to get off the road by a certain time, the high probability is that they will speed and we know the consequences of speeding. Or they end up stranded, unable to drive to get home. These proposals are poorly considered, discriminatory and impractical. Not all young drivers behave the same way, there are major differences in behaviour between male and female drivers yet these changes could be wholesale.

“We know that telematics insurance works in supporting young driver safety and can indeed work for all drivers. The UK Government needs to take a closer look at road casualty figures. The road casualty figures show casualties amongst the youngest motorists have fallen by 35% compared to 16% for more experienced drivers since 2011. And that can largely be attributed to telematics insurance.

“At the root of these proposals is a lack of understanding of what technology can do and has done to protect young drivers. We would welcome the Government to engage with the insurance sector and technology providers to understand what the industry has learnt about young drivers and what motivates them to modify behaviour rather than resort to these draconian and ill-thought-out measures.”

A further measure being considered through the plan is a ban on trees over ten years of age on buses and coaches.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Driver Banned With Evidence They Posted On Their Own Facebook Page

21.11.2019 Carl Millar

A driver has been banned from driving following video evidence of them filming a young boy dancing on the front seat in a moving car. And the only reason the driver got caught was that she posted the video on her own Facebook page.

The video was spotted on Facebook and some viewers made complaints to the police over what they saw.

During the thirty second clip, the driver can be heard laughing, singing along and shouting “show us your moves”, all from the driving seat whilst the car is moving.

When the police finally tracked her down, she initially refused to answer any questions about the incident and pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving. However, on the day of trial, she changed her plea to one of guilty.

She was sentenced to six months custody, suspended for 12 months and banned from driving for a year. She was also ordered to undertake twenty hours of unpaid work and pay £115 as a victim surcharge.

The court heard how the boy was not sitting on a child seat and although he was wearing an adult eaglet, it was only around his waist.

In sentencing, the Judge said: “Anything could have happened whilst your attention was away from the road. He could have gone through the windscreen, so could you.”

The court also heard how the driver had three previous drink driving-related convictions, one for careless driving and one for failing to stop after an accident.

Following sentencing, Road Policing Officer Mark Patterson, from North Yorkshire Police, labelled White’s driving “highly irresponsible and incredibly dangerous”.

He said: “As the footage clearly shows, Miss White’s driving that day was highly irresponsible and incredibly dangerous and it’s only through sheer luck she wasn’t involved in a serious collision.

“Her blatant disregard for the safety of the child and traffic laws could have ended tragically and the consequences of her actions had she of lost control of her vehicle doesn’t bear thinking about.

“I’d like to thank the member of the public who reported this incident to us and I hope this message sends a clear message that this type of reckless behaviour will not be tolerated on our roads.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Distracted Driving – Kids May Be The Ultimate Cause

19.11.2019 Carl Millar

Figures from a recent poll conducted by Nissan have shown a massive 72% of those drivers interviewed found it difficult to concentrate on driving whilst their children misbehaved in the car.

But the figures went further with 40% declaring how their driving was unsafe because of the distractions. It meant these parent drivers would occasionally take their eyes off the road and their hands of the wheel.

Reported driving “mishaps” included:

Running red lights
Forgetting to indicate
Breaking suddenly
Swerving across lanes
Being forced to stop the car

The highest rate of distractions include:

Loud and heated arguments between siblings/friends
Crying / screaming tantrums
Kicking the back of the driver’s seat
Undoing their seatbelts
Throwing toys around the car

It may come as a surprise when parental drivers arrive late at their destination and/or in a bad mood. Travelling with badly behaved child passengers has been cited as a cause of road rage with other road users and arguments between adults within the same car.

Some parents have taken to avoiding motorways in an event to drive on less potentially dangerous roads. Other parents admitted to using distraction methods with the children by letting them use tablets in the back of the car or bribing them with sweets.

Following this data, Nissan has come up with 9 suggestions to give parental drivers a better chance of a less distracting drive.

Plan ahead and avoid unnecessary stops
Allocate time for frequent toilet breaks
Try different types of music in the car and find out which keeps them the calmest
Use in-car entertainment
Let the kids have a small role in planning the journey
Stock up on nutritious snacks to keep the hunger pangs at bay. Avoid sugary sweets and drinks
Take their favourite cuddly toy with them as they are more likely to fall asleep with it
Drive with your children’s routine in mind. If they have a nap time, this may be a good time to drive as they are quieter when they are asleep (sic)
Make sure your car is safe to drive. There is nothing worse than breaking down at the side of the road with disgruntled children.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Driving Instructors Asked By Police To Keep Young Drivers Safe

16.11.2019 Carl Millar

Driving instructors in Warwickshire have been asked by police to help keep young drivers safe on Warwickshire roads.

The Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner has invited 75 approved driving instructors to join them as “Honest Truth” instructors to help reduce the number of young people seriously injured or killed on the road every year.

In 2018, Warwickshire saw four 17 to 25 year olds killed and 66 seriously injured in 2018. A further 267 escaped with minor injuries relating to road traffic accidents.

Warwickshire Police Inspector Jem Mountford said: “Our younger drivers are over represented in our road casualty statistics and it is important we support innovative schemes like The Honest Truth to help reduce these numbers. We want to work with Approved Driving Instructors as they are in the unique position of reaching young drivers when they are in the learning state of mind.

“We know from statistical evidence that the majority of those KSIs (killed and seriously injured) involving new and young drivers, aren’t as a result of poor driving skill. In other words, the mirror-signal-manoeuvre technical skills taught by driving instructors and required to pass a driving test aren’t so much of an issue as the lack of decision-making skills and understanding of the dangers faced by new drivers. The Honest Truth project helps to make young drivers aware of the risks when they start to drive alone.”

Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said “Working with Approved Driving Instructors provides a unique opportunity to reach new drivers in Warwickshire at a key point in their driving career, when they are still learning and receptive to new information.

“Approved Driving Instructors can use The Honest Truth to provide a targeted road safety initiative to learner drivers during their lessons to help people stay safer on Warwickshire’s roads.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Government Says Mobile Phone Loophole To Be Closed

11.11.2019 Carl Millar

Currently, UK motorists face a £200 fine and 6 penalty points should they be caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel. However, there has been a loophole caused by the way in which the legislation was drafted.

Some drivers have been able to show they had only been using their phone to take photographs or movies rather than “transmitting or receiving” data or making a phone call.

The Government have now announced plans to make using a mobile phone whilst driving illegal no matter what the reason. The Department for Transport hope the new rules will be in place by Spring 2020.

“We recognise that staying in touch with the world while travelling is an essential part of modern day life but we are also committed to making our roads safe,” said the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. “Drivers who user a hand-held mobile phone are hindering their ability to spot hazards and react in time – putting people’s lives at risk.

“We welcome the Transport Select Committee’s report, and share their drive to make our roads even safer which is why this review will look to tighten up the existing law to bring it into the 21st century, preventing reckless driving and reduce accidents on our roads.”

Samuel Nahk, senior public affairs officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “All phone use behind the wheel is dangerous and to get this message across to drivers the law must reflect this. Far too many people still use their phone behind the wheel, yet it should be as unacceptable as drink driving, with research showing that reaction times whilst texting are double those of drink-drivers.”
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said: “We welcome the government’s move to clarify the law on using hand-held mobile devices while driving and close loopholes which treat sending or receiving data differently, allowing drivers acting dangerously to escape prosecution.

“The committee’s report was clear on the dangers of hands-free devices and it is troubling that they will not be banned despite the government’s acknowledgement of the risk. The current law provides a dangerous false impression that it is safe to use a mobile phone with a hands-free kit when driving – it is not. All phone use behind the wheel is dangerous and to get this message across to drivers the law must reflect this.”

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.

Serious Crash Leads To Drink Driving Arrests

7.11.2019 Carl Millar

A serious road traffic collision which ended with a woman being airlifted to hospital has resulted in a man being charged with drink driving.

Three people were injured in the collision which happened on the A483 in Oswestry.

The road was closed for 5 hours following the crash.

Police reported how a 29 year old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

About Carl Millar

Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.

With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.

Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535 or in an emergency you can call on 07732 054827.