MOTORISTS have been warned that they could be fined £2,500 for standing next to their car in the run-up to Christmas.
With the first weekend of December coming up, you may be planning on going for a drink to celebrate the start of the festive season.
However, car and van leasing company Vanarama is warning Brits that simply standing next to their car whilst under the influence of alcohol can cost them a whopping £2,500 fine.
Plus, up to three months imprisonment.
If you have consumed more than the legal alcohol limit, you shouldn't even touch your car.
Under English law, it is possible to be charged with drunk driving without being behind the wheel.
Indicators of this include: standing behind your vehicle, being inside your vehicle but not in the driving seat or having the keys in the ignition.
Vanarama also surveyed Brits on their drink-driving knowledge.
Shockingly, nearly a quarter (22.6%) of motorists wrongly believe that a glass of champagne with food would have no effect on their ability to drive
This research shows that 10million drivers will break the law next year.
The study also showed that almost a third (28.8%) of UK motorists are unaware that driving after two small glasses of wine is illegal.
This is because it takes your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) beyond England, Wales, and Northern Ireland limit of 0.08%, or 80mg of alcohol for every 100ml of blood.
In Scotland, that limit is even lower at 0.05% and 50mg of alcohol.
Vanamara has also shared how long drivers should wait to drive after having certain types of drinks.
Drivers, who have had a large glass of wine, should wait approximately five hours to drive a car.
While If you opt for a single gin, you should wait 2.5 hours before getting behind the wheel.
