Drink-drive message not working

The government’s efforts to make motorists heed the drink-drive message appear to be failing.

A new survey has shown that despite continued investment in the “don’t drink and drive” mantra, motorists are still getting behind the wheel after a drink.

Last year, 6% of drivers admitted to driving after having an alcoholic drink. The 2012 survey by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance shows that figure is unchanged from 2011.

The survey also showed that 6% of motorists admitted to driving in the morning after drinking the night before; this figure is also unchanged from the previous year.

Other figures in the survey showed that 18% of people continue driving when they feel tired, which is also unchanged from 2011.

There was, however, improvements in some aspects of driving behaviour, 5% of drivers admitting to using a hand-held phone while driving, down 1% on the previous year. Also the number of people who admitted to driving at more than 10mph over the legal speed limit fell from 19% to 17%.

Government figures claim that 14% of all road fatalities in 2010 were caused by drink driving. The UK’s legal blood alcohol limit for driving is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (80mg%), which is the same as Ireland, Malta and Luxembourg; the legal limit in most other European countries is 50mg%.