THINK! about the drink drive consequences

Millions of people risk losing their job or face difficulty getting work if they drink and drive this Christmas.

The government’s latest THINK! drink drive campaign highlights the snowball effect a drink drive conviction can have on future job prospects.

Up to one million work in jobs they could lose as a result of a drink-drive conviction, while a survey has shown almost a third (27%) would have to give up their job because they rely on a car to get to work.

People who drive as part of their job are particularly vulnerable but someone with a conviction could also be denied access to millions more jobs which are eligible for criminal records checks.

These jobs include professional driving jobs, teachers, care workers and jobs in banks and finance.

Any employer can ask to see unspent criminal convictions and research shows three-quarters of employers admit to taking a criminal conviction into account during the recruitment process.

Launching the ‘Snowball Effect’ drink drive campaign, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “For many Christmas is about spending time with friends and family and celebrating.

“But if drivers have a tipple they should not get behind the wheel.

“Just one drink can put you over the limit and the consequences are devastating – not only will you be cuffed and put in a cell, but if you’re convicted you will lose your licence and, as this research shows, you could even lose your job.”

Edmund King, Automobile Association president, said: “Drink drive convictions have dramatic and traumatic snowball effects. One third of people will lose their jobs and experience years of hiked insurance premiums.

“A snowball might melt away quickly but the effects of a driving ban last way beyond any winter thaw.

“If you are going to drive - don’t drink. If you are going to drink - don’t drive.”

Simon Edwards, head of logistics at recruiting firm Manpower, said: “In this highly-competitive job market a drink drive conviction puts you at a serious disadvantage.

“It is very common for a client making a decision between two otherwise equal applicants to favour the individual without a drink drive conviction.

“And with the boom in ecommerce and exponential rise in the dot.com delivery market a conviction rules candidates out from a new and growing industry.

“Everyday I see the devastating impact of a conviction on a candidate’s ability to get or retain a job and the limits this puts on future opportunities.”

Meanwhile a recent survey by Drink Driver Education has shown 28% of people with convictions worry about applying for jobs in case they conduct a criminal records check.

A third of respondents said not being able to drive limited their choice of job while 47% said their social lives had been affected because they were unable to visit family or friends.

Roger Singer, Head of Drink Driver Education, said: “I help hundreds of drink drivers every year, and they all say the impact of their conviction is much more severe and far-reaching than they imagined.

“Everyone I meet has been given at least a 12-month driving ban. For many this meant instant dismissal from their jobs, for some it meant resigning because they couldn’t get to work.

“Many haven’t applied for future roles they want because of the conviction and have got stuck in careers they hate.”