Flying the flag for The King’s Coronation: IAM RoadSmart warns motorists of the drink drive dangers

• Road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is warning motorists to take extra care during the Coronation bank holiday

• Over one in ten motorists feel it’s acceptable to drive when they think they may have had too much to drink

• 88 per cent of people surveyed support a law requiring all drivers who have been convicted of drink driving to use a device that won’t let their car start if they have been drinking

As the nation prepares to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, the UK’s largest road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is warning motorists of the dangers of drink driving over the bank holiday weekend.

Millions of Britons are expected to take to the country’s highways and byways this weekend to enjoy the festivities, yet IAM RoadSmart is urging road users to be extra cautious.

A survey, commissioned by IAM RoadSmart, looking at the safety attitudes and behaviours of over 2,000 motorists, found more than one in ten (11 per cent) motorists feel it’s acceptable to drive when they think they may have had too much to drink.

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) showed over one in six of all fatal crashes involved alcohol, and 220 people died in crashes where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.

IAM RoadSmart’s most recent annual Safety Culture Report also showed 10 per cent of motorists said they felt it’s acceptable to drive after drinking alcohol, accounting for over 3.4 million licence holders in the UK.

The survey also discovered 89 per cent of motorists said people driving after drinking alcohol is a very serious threat to their personal safety, and 88 per cent of people surveyed support a law requiring all drivers who have been convicted of drink driving to use a device that won’t let their car start if they have been drinking, even if it’s their first time of being convicted.

Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, said:

“IAM RoadSmart’s latest research shows that far too many motorists in the UK still feel it’s acceptable to drive after drinking alcohol, and that mixed with the Coronation festivities where more people could be tempted to throw caution to the wind and risk it, could be a recipe for disaster.

 “We know that often those who drink heavily do so in the company of others, so we can’t turn a blind eye when people pick up their car keys after drinking alcohol. We all play a role in protecting those around us, so if we really care for our friends and family, we should do our upmost to stop them from taking such dangerous and potentially fatal actions.”

To learn more about IAM RoadSmart, visit www.iamroadsmart.com