With the Christmas party season in full swing new RAC research*
has found nearly four in 10 people (37%) have friends who they
believe have driven while being over the drink-drive limit.
While two-thirds (65%) of the 1,865 motorists questioned for the
survey timed to coincide with the launch of the
Government’s THINK! Christmas
drink-drive campaign believe there is more pressure in
general to drink alcohol in the month of December and during the
festive period, a shocking 28% were unprepared to try to talk a
friend who they thought might be over the limit out of driving.
A hard-line 9%, however, say they would warn a friend not to
drive otherwise they would call the police. Four in 10 (43%)
would try to persuade their friend who had been drinking to take
alternative transport home, and even arrange and pay for a taxi.
Only 38% of those questioned claimed to have a zero-alcohol
policy when driving to a social function. Just over a quarter
(27%) say they will have one small alcoholic drink, such as half
a pint, shandy, small wine, small spirit mixed, followed by
non-alcoholic drinks and then drive home. One in 10 (10%) could
be risking being over the limit by having one large alcoholic
drink, such as a pint of beer or lager, large wine or a large
spirit mixed, and then non-alcoholic drinks and drive home. Two
per cent say they will have two alcoholic drinks and drive home.
Looking at Christmas Day itself a fifth of those who took part in
the research (21%) say they will be driving after celebrating
with family or friends and, asked separately, 23% will drink
alcohol before driving.
Data compiled for this year’s RAC annual Report on
Motoring** shows there is growing concern about those who
drive under the influence of alcohol, the issue having risen from
eighth to fifth in a list of 20 major driving concerns, with 27%
of drivers identifying it is as a major concern.
Eight in 10 motorists (81%) of the 1,808 motorists surveyed say
they do not think they have driven under the influence of alcohol
over the past 12 months. But worryingly, there has been a
statistically significant increase in the proportion of drivers
who admit in the past 12 months that they have driven shortly
after drinking when they think or know they were over the legal
limit, rising from 8% to 12%.
Looking at the ‘morning after’ drink-driving issue, 2% say they
know they have broken the law in this way, while 8% believe they
may have done so.
The figures also show motorists aged between 25 and 44 (24%) are
more likely to admit to driving when they think or know they were
over the legal limit shortly after drinking than those in other
age groups, while those who live in London (32%) or in other
cities (23%) also have a greater propensity to drink-drive.
RAC road safety spokesperson Pete Williams said: “Drink-driving,
whether someone is just over the limit or several times above it,
is unacceptable – it ruins lives. So it’s shocking to see in our
research that so many people know drivers who have got behind the
wheel when they’re over the limit.
“It’s also sad that a sizeable proportion of those surveyed are
unwilling to try to persuade a friend who’s too drunk to drive,
not to. But, on the other hand it’s positive that 43% would sort
out a cab for a friend instead of letting them drive.
“The findings of our long-term research for the Report on
Motoring around drivers aged 25-44 being more likely to say they
had driven while over the limit were significant, and in some
cases surprising given that younger drivers under 25 are often
seen as more likely to drink and drive. It is also surprising
Londoners are more prone to this as city dwellers generally have
better public transport alternatives to the car compared to those
living in rural areas.
“We urge everyone to think twice about driving to a social
function and then drinking. The best advice is not to drink at
all or to arrange other transport so you can enjoy yourself
without the fear and consequences of breaking the law. And, for
those that have been out drinking it is also essential they
ensure they are safe to drive the next day as just going to sleep
for a few hours doesn’t necessarily make you legally safe to
drive.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Research carried out online with members of the RAC Opinion
Panel 19-25 November 2018
** Research for the RAC Report on
Motoring was conducted by Quadrangle using an online
survey of 1,808 motorists who hold a full, current driving
licence, drive at least once a month and who have a motor vehicle
in their household. The research was carried out from 2-18 May
2018.
