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15/11/2004
15m motorists drink drive 'the morning after', claims report
The latest research has revealed younger motorists are confused over drink drive limits and that as many as 15 million motorists in the UK are seriously underestimating the time taken to sober up.
The research commissioned by insurance group Direct Line revealed that one-in-three motorists drove 'the morning after' whilst over the legal limit.
Drinking four pints of strong lager, males estimated it would take seven hours to be completely safe to drive, while younger drivers (18 to 29 year olds) believe they could drive after six hours.
However, medical research indicates that it can take around 12 hours to be sufficiently sober to drive after drinking four prints of strong lager or ale. This places many motorists at risk of being over the drink drive limit until late the following morning.
Motor Spokesperson for Direct Line, Emma Holyer, said: "The research shows the awareness amongst motorists is shockingly low towards the dangers of driving the morning after. If you have a few drinks at the pub of an evening you must be very careful about driving to work the next day and if you have had more than a few, don't drive at all until much later in the day."
Only one in ten correctly identified the length of time it would take to be safe to drive after drinking half a bottle of average strength wine (12%) at six hours.
The advice from Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents and most Police Constabularies is simple: do not drink at all when driving - the only safe amount is zero.
In terms of driving, the UK blood alcohol limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood, equivalent to a 35ug per 100ml breath reading.
Research in the UK by RoSPA shows drivers are 25 times more likely to have an accident while driving over the limit.
(SP/GMCG)
The research commissioned by insurance group Direct Line revealed that one-in-three motorists drove 'the morning after' whilst over the legal limit.
Drinking four pints of strong lager, males estimated it would take seven hours to be completely safe to drive, while younger drivers (18 to 29 year olds) believe they could drive after six hours.
However, medical research indicates that it can take around 12 hours to be sufficiently sober to drive after drinking four prints of strong lager or ale. This places many motorists at risk of being over the drink drive limit until late the following morning.
Motor Spokesperson for Direct Line, Emma Holyer, said: "The research shows the awareness amongst motorists is shockingly low towards the dangers of driving the morning after. If you have a few drinks at the pub of an evening you must be very careful about driving to work the next day and if you have had more than a few, don't drive at all until much later in the day."
Only one in ten correctly identified the length of time it would take to be safe to drive after drinking half a bottle of average strength wine (12%) at six hours.
The advice from Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents and most Police Constabularies is simple: do not drink at all when driving - the only safe amount is zero.
In terms of driving, the UK blood alcohol limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood, equivalent to a 35ug per 100ml breath reading.
Research in the UK by RoSPA shows drivers are 25 times more likely to have an accident while driving over the limit.
(SP/GMCG)
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