Millions Of Motorists Risk Breaking Drink-Drive Laws
Recent figures published by the ODPM (DTLR) show that the number of accidents involving drinking and driving has increased for the first time since 1990. Drink-drive related deaths rose by more than ten per cent last year (2000), with total casualties increasing by seven per cent*1.
A Direct Line/MORI survey*2 has now revealed that a third of motorists regularly drink and drive believing they are under the legal limit. Yet, when questioned further, one in six of these (equivalent to 1.7 million drivers*3) admitted that they didn't know how to calculate how many units they had consumed.
In addition, nearly a third of the 2,000 people surveyed said that they had driven in the past even though they were probably over the legal limit. Dominic Burch, Direct Line's road safety campaign manager said:
"One in seven deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit, therefore the problem of drinking and driving has not gone away. However, our research has revealed that a large number of motorists are potentially breaking the law without realising it, putting themselves and others at risk."
"Unfortunately there is no foolproof guide to how much alcohol you can drink and still stay within the law. It depends on the type of alcohol you have drunk, how much you weigh, your sex, age and metabolism. So the best advice if you are planning to drive is don't drink any alcohol at all."
A third of drivers said they had been stopped and breathalysed at some point in their lives, with one-in-ten of these admitting they had failed the test. However, according to Direct Line most drink-drivers learn their lesson once they have been caught. Mr Burch added:
"If you are convicted of a drink driving offence, not only do you have to live with a criminal record, but you will also have to pay more for your car insurance once you are allowed back on the road. Most insurers will increase your premium by at least a third, whilst some companies may refuse to cover you at all. In our experience, most drivers only need to get caught once before they learn their lesson."
The vast majority of drivers surveyed (85 per cent) said they would support a move to give the Police powers to randomly test those drivers who are most likely to have been drinking, such as those getting into vehicles outside pubs and nightclubs. However, drivers were split on whether the current drink drive limit should be changed, 42 per cent thought that it should be reduced so that people are not allowed to drink at all before driving, while 39 per cent said current limits should stay as they are.
Technical details
- Provisional estimates for 2000, Transport Statistics: Road Safety, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
- Based on a survey conducted by MORI Financial Services on behalf of Direct Line in July 2001 of 2,000 interviews among adults aged 17 and over, who are Driving Licence holders and who have driven at least once in the last month.
- There are approximately 30 million drivers in the UK, 36% admit that they drink and drive (equivalent to 10.8 million). Of these drink-drivers, 16% admit they don't know how to calculate how many units they have consumed (equivalent 1.7 million drivers).
The legal alcohol limit for driving is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, any amount of alcohol affects driving ability. A motorist's ability to judge speed and distance may be impaired, their reaction times may be slowed and their judgement of risk seriously affected. The quantity of alcohol in a half-pint of standard strength beer is approximately the same as in a pub measure of spirits or a pub measure of port/sherry or a small glass of wine.
Penalties have been made more severe as public attitudes to drinking and driving have hardened. The offence of 'causing death by careless driving while unfit (under the influence of drink or drugs)' now carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment and a disqualification of at least two years.
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink can result in six months imprisonment plus a fine of £5,000 and a disqualification of at least 12 months (three years automatic ban if convicted twice in ten years).
