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Millions unwittingly drink drive the morning after the night before
IAM RoadSmart survey discovers significant numbers of motorists could be over the limit the morning after drinking…. Russell Campbell asks: do you know when you need to stop?
More than a third of motorists have unwittingly driven while over the legal blood-alcohol limit after consuming alcohol the night before, according to new research conducted by IAM RoadSmart.
The survey of more than 1,000 motorists found that 38% of people who drank several drinks admitted drinking past 9pm, 21% said they'd had a drink past 10pm.
Yet because of how the body metabolises alcohol, if you drink the equivalent of nine units of alcohol – three large glasses of wine (12% alcohol by volume or ABV) or three pints of strong beer or cider (5.2% ABV) – up until 10pm, you could still be over the drink-drive limit at 7am the following morning. Drink Aware guidance states that, on average, our body removes one unit of alcohol per hour (although exactly how much alcohol is processed depends on factors such as weight, metabolism and liver health).
The study found that almost a third of us (31%) have been in the company of someone who got on a bike or behind the wheel of a car after drinking, with nearly three-quarters of respondents (71%) saying they had warned them not to. That said, 23% percent of people said they took no action, with 5% thinking it wasn’t their business to intervene.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: "Drink driving can have devastating consequences. While the latest drink-drive related fatality figures have declined compared to the previous year, the trend over the past decade is troubling and shows that we are stuck in a dangerous rut. We must redouble our efforts on enforcement, providing the police with the necessary tools to clamp down on drink drivers while reviewing our approach to both first-time and repeat offenders.”
Highlighting the impact drink drivers have on their victims was seen as the most effective way of instigating change – 83% of respondents said this would be the strongest route to rehabilitation.
Sarah Fisk, IAM RoadSmart Drink Driver Rehabilitation Scheme Business Development
Manager talks us through its course: The IAM RoadSmart Drink-Drive
Rehabilitation Course is designed to be practical, interactive and provide knowledge and facts. Participants join others in the same situation – either in a virtual or in-person setting and are guided by a professional trainer who creates a non-judgemental space. “The course covers how alcohol affects driving ability and decision-making; understanding the legal, personal and financial consequences of drink-driving; provides tools and strategies to avoid future offences; and enables participants to reflect on their experiences. “On successful completion of the course the DVLA is notified and the participant can reapply for their licence, sometimes enabling the participant to gain up to a 25% reduction on their licence ban.
“The course is designed to assist participants to change their behaviour and to reduce
reoffending. Research shows that participants are between two and three times less likely to reoffend.”
"The statistics are concerning and act as a timely reminder to consider the implications of a previous evening's alcohol consumption before driving the following morning,” commented Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety at National Highways.
"Everyone using the road network has the right to complete their journey in safety and without it being jeopardised by others. Getting behind the wheel with alcohol in your system impairs your driving ability and puts lives at risk."
Department for Transport statistics, meanwhile, have uncovered new trends with July suffering the highest rate of drink-driver-related casualties. Previously, December was the month drivers were most likely to get behind the wheel after drinking. “We know that July is the worst month for collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured where drink or drugs is a factor and this is unacceptable,” said Chief Constable Jo Shiner KPM, Roads Policing Lead for England and Wales.
“When you are stopped by police you will be prosecuted and banned from driving. You will also be fined and could go to prison.”
More than a third of motorists have unwittingly driven while over the legal blood-alcohol limit after consuming alcohol the night before, according to new research conducted by IAM RoadSmart.
The survey of more than 1,000 motorists found that 38% of people who drank several drinks admitted drinking past 9pm, 21% said they'd had a drink past 10pm.
Yet because of how the body metabolises alcohol, if you drink the equivalent of nine units of alcohol – three large glasses of wine (12% alcohol by volume or ABV) or three pints of strong beer or cider (5.2% ABV) – up until 10pm, you could still be over the drink-drive limit at 7am the following morning. Drink Aware guidance states that, on average, our body removes one unit of alcohol per hour (although exactly how much alcohol is processed depends on factors such as weight, metabolism and liver health).
Devastating consequences
The legal alcohol limit for driving in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; except in Scotland where it is 50 milligrams. Alcohol Change UK's - unit calculator can give you guidance on how long alcohol will stay in your system, although carrying a breathalyser is also advisable.The study found that almost a third of us (31%) have been in the company of someone who got on a bike or behind the wheel of a car after drinking, with nearly three-quarters of respondents (71%) saying they had warned them not to. That said, 23% percent of people said they took no action, with 5% thinking it wasn’t their business to intervene.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: "Drink driving can have devastating consequences. While the latest drink-drive related fatality figures have declined compared to the previous year, the trend over the past decade is troubling and shows that we are stuck in a dangerous rut. We must redouble our efforts on enforcement, providing the police with the necessary tools to clamp down on drink drivers while reviewing our approach to both first-time and repeat offenders.”
Strongest route to rehabilitation
There was some more positive news, though. Of the drivers surveyed, 62% believed that alcohol-free alternatives could help prevent drink driving, 80% thought drink driver rehabilitation courses could reduce reoffending, and 81% wanted such schemes to be mandatory for convicted drink drivers rather than voluntary as the law currently stands.Highlighting the impact drink drivers have on their victims was seen as the most effective way of instigating change – 83% of respondents said this would be the strongest route to rehabilitation.
Sarah Fisk, IAM RoadSmart Drink Driver Rehabilitation Scheme Business Development
Manager talks us through its course: The IAM RoadSmart Drink-Drive
Rehabilitation Course is designed to be practical, interactive and provide knowledge and facts. Participants join others in the same situation – either in a virtual or in-person setting and are guided by a professional trainer who creates a non-judgemental space. “The course covers how alcohol affects driving ability and decision-making; understanding the legal, personal and financial consequences of drink-driving; provides tools and strategies to avoid future offences; and enables participants to reflect on their experiences. “On successful completion of the course the DVLA is notified and the participant can reapply for their licence, sometimes enabling the participant to gain up to a 25% reduction on their licence ban.
“The course is designed to assist participants to change their behaviour and to reduce
reoffending. Research shows that participants are between two and three times less likely to reoffend.”
Consider the implications
In Great Britain, drink drivers or riders killed an estimated 300 people in 2022, the highest rate since 2009, with Northern Ireland suffering 63 fatalities in the same year."The statistics are concerning and act as a timely reminder to consider the implications of a previous evening's alcohol consumption before driving the following morning,” commented Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety at National Highways.
"Everyone using the road network has the right to complete their journey in safety and without it being jeopardised by others. Getting behind the wheel with alcohol in your system impairs your driving ability and puts lives at risk."
Department for Transport statistics, meanwhile, have uncovered new trends with July suffering the highest rate of drink-driver-related casualties. Previously, December was the month drivers were most likely to get behind the wheel after drinking. “We know that July is the worst month for collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured where drink or drugs is a factor and this is unacceptable,” said Chief Constable Jo Shiner KPM, Roads Policing Lead for England and Wales.
“When you are stopped by police you will be prosecuted and banned from driving. You will also be fined and could go to prison.”
