Key points:
- A 45-year-old driver from Dublin admitted drink-driving after leaving the Rosslare–Pembroke Dock ferry.
- His blood alcohol level was 105 mg per 100 ml, against a limit of 80 mg in England and Wales.
- Driving off a ferry is normal driving: the same limits and penalties apply.
- In Ireland, professional drivers have a limit of just 20 mg, in Scotland the limit is 50 mg.
- The minimum ban for drink-driving in the UK is 12 months.
Caught minutes after leaving the ferry
The driver arrived at Pembroke Dock in the early hours of 14 July. He was stopped shortly after driving off the ferry. A blood sample taken at the police station showed 105 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. He admitted drinking two pints of Guinness during the crossing and pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.
His solicitor asked the court to find “special reasons” not to disqualify him. He argued that the driver only intended to move the lorry between 15 and 100 metres to a parking area to start an 11-hour rest, that he drove slowly and that no poor driving was reported. The case was adjourned until 21 December.
The ferry is not a rest stop from the law
Many drivers see the crossing as a break. Under EU rules, which still apply to Irish drivers, a driver’s regular daily rest can be taken on a ferry if they have access to a bunk or cabin. The rest can only be interrupted twice, for a total of one hour, to drive on or off the ship, according to Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
That does not change the drink-driving rules. The moment the truck rolls down the ramp, the driver is on a public road, and the alcohol limit of the country they arrive in applies, even if they plan to drive only a few metres.
Three limits in one day
A driver on the Irish Sea can face different limits within a few hours:
- Ireland: 20 mg per 100 ml of blood for professional, learner and novice drivers, 50 mg for other drivers,
- Scotland: 50 mg per 100 ml of blood (22 µg per 100 ml of breath),
- England and Wales: 80 mg per 100 ml of blood (35 µg per 100 ml of breath), according to GOV.UK.
So a driver who is legal in Wales could be well over the limit for a professional driver back in Ireland. Even one drink can put a professional driver over the Irish limit.
What the driver could face
In the UK, driving or attempting to drive over the limit can lead to up to six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least one year. Under the Sentencing Council guidelines, a blood reading of 81–137 mg normally means a Band B or C fine and a ban of 12 to 16 months for a first offence.
The guidelines list a very short distance driven as a factor that can reduce the seriousness of the offence. However, a “special reasons” argument, which could allow the court not to ban the driver, is decided case by case. For a professional driver, a ban usually means the end of their job.
The lesson for drivers
- Do not drink on the ferry if you will drive after the crossing, even “just to the car park”.
- Remember that alcohol takes hours to leave the body; a short crossing is not enough.
- Check which limit applies at your destination, especially if you are an Irish professional driver.
- If you need to rest, plan it so that you do not have to move the truck after drinking.
trans.info has reported on several cases of drink-driving lorry drivers who lost their licences. The rules are simple: if you are driving off the ferry, the crossing is not the time for a drink.
