SHOCKING footage showed the moment a drink-driver with kids in the backseat smashed into an oncoming car after he lost control of his Audi.
Simon Wright, 43, had a front-seat passenger and children in the back when he lost control and ploughed into another car.
Simon Wright, 43, was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for two years[/caption] Footage captured the moment he exited a roundabout at speed moments before he lost control[/caption] There were kids in the back of Wright’s car who were treated for shock but were not seriously injured[/caption]The driver and the passenger of the second vehicle were taken to hospital but were not seriously injured.
The children were treated for shock but fortunately weren’t injured.
The “selfish and mindless” driver appeared at Swindon Crown Court on July 26 and pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and drink driving.
He received an 18-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work, a two-year driving ban, and was ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation along with a £187 surcharge.
The incident happened around 4.30pm in Wiltshire last year.
Wright was driving erratically from Malmesbury to Little Somerford.
the dramatic dash-cam footage showed him exiting a roundabout at speed before losing control and crashing into the car.
Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene where Wright, from Parklands, Malmesbury, failed a breathalyser test.
WHILE the drink-drive limit is the same for everyone, how it influences you behind the wheel changes.
The easiest way to avoid being caught out and ensure safety on the road is not to drink at all if you plan on driving.
He and the other front-seat passenger were treated for injuries from the crash he caused.
PC Luke Hobbs, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “The fact that there were young children also in the vehicle at the time does not bear thinking about.
“Dangerous driving and drink driving are two of the fatal five offences most likely to cause serious harm or death on our roads and we are 100 per cent dedicated to targeting those committing these offences in order to keep our roads safe.
“I am pleased that as a result of his selfish and mindless actions, Wright has been banned from our roads.”
It comes after a drink-driver told cops “mistakes happen” after killing a baby and aunt in a horror crash.
And a terrified passenger screamed “I’m going to die” moments before an “arrogant” drunk driver killed a young mum.
By Hannah Crouch, Sara Benwell, Adam Solomons, Danni Scott
DRIVING under the influence of alcohol is illegal in the UK, and anyone found guilty could be handed a serious penalty.
Because of the ways in which alcohol can affect a person’s driving, there are strict rules on how many drinks you can have and still legally be able to drive. Here’s what we know.
How many units of alcohol can you have before driving?
The drink driving limit in the UK is measured in milligrams rather than units.
The limit is 80 milligrams in every 100 millilitres of blood.
This roughly translates to four units of alcohol for men and three units for women, but this is not a one-size-fits-all rule.
Body mass, gender and how quickly the body absorbs alcohol are major factors on how each individual is impacted by drinking.
Generally speaking, two pints of beer or two small glasses of wine is enough to put you over the legal limit.
The stronger your drink, the longer it takes to leave your system, so a large glass of wine (250ml) could be in your blood for four hours after drinking.
While a pint might take less time to leave your system (two hours instead of four), you should still factor in an hour for it to absorb into your body.
For example, if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you will not be safe to drive until 9am.
Each person has their own limit because all bodies process alcohol differently.
But if you’re planning on driving, the easiest way to make sure you’re on the right side of the law and safe behind the wheel is not to drink at all.
If you enjoy a night of drinking, you should still give yourself plenty of time the next day before hitting the road.
What is the drink driving limit in the UK?
The drink drive limit varies in the UK depending on the country.
There are different rules for motorists in England, Wales and Northern Ireland than for drivers in Scotland.
The limits for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are:
In Scotland, the limits are:
The Scottish regulations mean that just one drink could put you over the limit.
Bear in mind that even if you are below the limit, one drink can still impair your driving skills and make getting in a car unsafe.
In fact, with just 10mg of alcohol per 100ml of your blood (one eighth of the limit in England and Wales), you are 37% more likely to be in a fatal accident than when completely sober.
For this reason it is best to avoid driving after consuming any alcohol — even if you think you can handle your drink.
How does alcohol affect driving?
Having alcohol in your system impairs your ability to drive safely as:
Remember, drinking will cause all of these impairments, not just one.
All of these effects combined can result in dangerous driving.
What can affect the drink driving limit?
There are several factors that can impact how much alcohol is absorbed into your blood, and when it tips you over the limit.
These levels can be dependent on:
What is the penalty for drink driving?
Anyone who causes death by driving under the influence of alcohol faces a jail term of up to 14 years.
Simply being caught over the limit can land you a driving ban, a £2,500 fine and even a short prison term.
The actual penalty a person gets depends on the offence and is up to the magistrates who hear the case.
Here are the maximum penalties handed out to drink drivers:
Other complications include: