Around five million drivers believe they have got behind the
wheel while over the limit at least once in the past year,
according to research carried out by the RAC.
In total 16% of the 1,727 motorists questioned by the RAC say
they think they have been guilty of drink-driving, either
immediately after consuming alcohol or the morning after a late
night drinking session.
Five per cent of motorists surveyed felt sure they were over the
limit shortly after having a drink while 3% think they may have
been over. Worryingly, a larger proportion admit to believing
they have driven when over the limit the morning after drinking
heavily the night before. Of the 10% who said this, 2% were sure
they had done so while 8% think they might have done.
The study also found that men are more likely to risk
drink-driving than women, both straight after drinking and the
morning after. And Londoners have a greater tendency to drive
while over the limit: in the capital, only 74% say they don’t
think they have been guilty of this, compared with 84% in the
general population and 89% of those who live in rural areas,
which is surprising given the better access to public transport
provision in the capital and the greater dependence of those in
rural areas on their cars to get home after a night out.
As the country is in the midst of the Christmas party season the
RAC is highlighting the ‘morning after’ issue in an attempt to
get every motorist to make sure they are safe to drive the next
day.
RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Anyone who has
been out celebrating during the festive period should be very
mindful of not being over the limit when they go to drive the
next day. Anyone who thinks they are likely to have sobered up
enough to drive just because they went to bed for a few hours may
just be about to ruin someone else’s Christmas as well as their
own.
“It is vital that everyone who has been drinking leaves
sufficient time for their body to process the alcohol they have
consumed. The trouble is everyone metabolises alcohol at
different rates so the message has to be to err on the side of
caution by leaving extra time before deciding to drive, or better
still to use an alternative form of transport such as bus, taxi
or train, or get a lift from a friend or colleague.
“If you are having to think whether you are sober enough to drive
then the answer is you probably aren’t.
“The dangers of drink-driving are truly horrific and should never
be underestimated. Never have the words ‘it’s better to be safe
than sorry’ been more appropriate.
“Apart from the obvious dangers of being involved in accidents
when drink-driving, police forces will be actively targeting
drink-drivers during December so anyone found to be over the
limit risks losing their licence as well as a hefty fine.”
And almost a quarter (24%) of motorists surveyed listed
drivers under the influence of drink as one of their top-four
concerns.
Motorists’ fears about drink-driving appear to be well justified
as government statistics for Britain show there has been little
change in the number of casualties from reported road accidents
between 2012 and 2016 where one of the drivers or riders involved
was impaired by alcohol. In both years 143** people lost their
lives in such accidents, and very similar numbers did so in the
years in between, totalling 702 over the five years.
The research also revealed there is extensive general public
support for a UK-wide reduction in the legal blood-alcohol limit
to 50 milligrams per 100ml – as enforced in Scotland – or even to
20 milligrams, with six in 10 (59%) British motorists saying they
are in favour of 50mg or less becoming law.
As of this year the drink-drive law and the roadside breath test
have been in force for 50 years and in that time the legal
blood-alcohol limit in England and Wales has not been
reduced. While the 80mg (milligrams) of alcohol per 100ml
(millilitres) of blood limit has been in place since a legal
maximum was introduced, Scotland took the decision to cut to 50mg
in December 2014 and Northern Ireland is in the process of doing
the same. England and Wales are not only lagging behind their
neighbours, but are also out of kilter with the rest of Europe
where, with few exceptions, 50mg per 100ml is the legal limit.
More information about the legal alcohol limits for driving can
be found in the RAC’s comprehensive guide to the
UK drink-drive limits.
Ends
Note to editors
* The RAC Report on Motoring 2017 is based on a largescale online
survey of 1,727 motorists carried out by Quadrangle in May 2017.
** RAS50007 Casualties in
reported accidents by contributory factor and severity, Great
Britain, 2012
