- Summer is just around the corner. So Confused.com experts are warning drivers of legal alcohol limits as 18% of UK drivers admit they drink more when the weather is sunny.
- More than a third (35%) of drivers feel most comfortable driving after drinking lager. While a further 31% are happy to get behind the wheel after a wine.
- More than 1 in 5 (22%) drivers also admit to driving the morning after drinking despite still possibly being over the limit.
More than 4 million UK motorists1 admit to driving after 3 drinks, new research reveals.
Nearly 1 in 2 (48%) UK drivers claim to have driven after having an alcohol drink in the past. And of these, more than 1 in 5 (21%), say they’ve gotten behind the wheel after having 3 or more drinks. This is equivalent to more than 4 million drivers.
That’s according to new research by the car insurance team at Confused.com, which found that almost 1 in 4 (23%) drivers typically feel comfortable driving after having 2 drinks or more.
And with warmer days and longer evenings upon us, it seems drink driving could become an even bigger issue on UK roads. That’s as almost 1 in 5 (18%) drivers say they drink more when the weather is warmer.
Drink driving is an offence which carries serious consequences. This can include up to 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or a driving ban for at least a year2. Not to mention the risk of danger a driver could be putting themselves, and other road users in.
That’s why there are strict legal limits in place. In England, the legal alcohol limit is up to 35mg per 100ml of breath in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. And in Scotland, the limit is lower, at 22mg per 100ml of breath3.
But what this means for each person varies. Some may be able to tolerate higher levels of alcohol than others. But it’s impossible to tell a single person’s limit, which is why drinking before driving is always something to avoid.
Equally, different drinks carry different levels of alcohol, with some stronger than others. And according to the research, drivers feel more comfortable driving after certain tipples than others. For example, more than a third (35%) say they feel comfortable driving after a pint of lager. While almost a third (31%) say they’d feel safe driving after a glass of wine.
Wine, in particular, has more units of alcohol than other options, with a large glass (250ml) measuring at 3 units per glass. In comparison, a bottle of 5% lager has 1.7 units4.
There’s no evidence to show how many units are safe to consume before driving. But there’s some science to show how long units take to leave the system. For example, it takes approximately 1 hour to process 1 unit of alcohol(4). So it could take up to 2 hours for a driver’s body to process a large glass of wine, or a bottle of beer. But again, this varies by person.
However, many drivers don’t leave much time between drinking and driving. Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) say they typically wait up to an hour before driving after a drink. While a further 31% say they wait between 1-2 hours. This means many drivers are at risk of still having alcohol in their system when they jump behind the wheel.
Similarly, many drivers have put themselves at risk of drink-driving, even after a good night’s sleep. That’s as more than 1 in 5 (22%) say they’ve driven the morning after drinking when they thought they may still be over the limit. Worryingly, only 30% thought the alcohol would have worn off. But almost 1 in 2 (49%) took the risk because they had to get to work.
A worrying number of drivers claim they generally feel comfortable driving after having a drink. When asked why they drive after drinking, more than half (53%) claim they don’t think they’d be over the limit. That’s despite many drivers opting to have more than 1 drink and drive. And a further 1 in 4 (24%) say they are confident in their driving ability. But for some, they may be chancing it. That’s as more than 1 in 5 (22%) say they drink and drive because they don’t have far to drive. While 15% say they know their route well.
While it’s not strictly illegal to drink a little alcohol before driving, there are limits in place for a reason - to keep drivers and other road users safe. To help drivers understand their limits, Confused.com has created a drink-driving calculator. Drivers can use this to see how far over the limit they could be after having a drink - and it could be more than they think.
Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com comments, “The warm weather brings a lot of social events - such as pub gardens, barbecues and garden parties. But with this comes a higher risk of people driving after having a drink. It’s worrying that many drivers are taking the chance and jumping behind the wheel after a few drinks. Even if you’re spreading these out over a long period of time, there’s still the risk the alcohol could be in your system.
“Many people may not be aware of how much alcohol they’re consuming, or how this impacts the legal drink drive limit. This is why we’ve created a drink-driving calculator to highlight just how long alcohol can stay in your system. While it may only be a drink or two, it could still push you over the limit.
“Drink driving carries a lot of serious consequences, and can be really dangerous for drivers, passengers and other road users. That’s why it’s important to really assess if you need to drive, or if there’s another way of getting home. If you’re drinking, don’t drive. And if you’re driving, don’t drink. Consider public transport, a taxi or bagging a lift off a designated driver. While it may not be the easiest option, it’s certainly the safest.”
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