14 December 2010

From: Brake, the road safety charity, PO Box 548, Huddersfield, HD1 2XZ
Tel: 01484 559909 Out of hours: 07976 069159 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research by Brake and Direct Line has revealed almost four in 10 motorists are risking lives by driving first thing after drinking excessively the night before.[1] With this week predicted to be the busiest for after work Christmas parties [2], drivers are being urged to plan ahead over the festive period to avoid 'morning after' drink-driving.

The survey highlights a continuing lack of understanding about how long alcohol stays in the body, with 38% of drivers and motorcyclists admitting to driving the morning after a heavy night. This is more than a 30% increase compared to seven years ago, when 28% admitted to doing so.

The survey also suggests that many drivers are putting themselves and others in danger due to a lack of awareness that even a small amount of alcohol affects driving:

One in three (35%) admit driving after drinking alcohol (any amount) in the past year – although this has fallen from 51% in 2003 Nearly half (45%) believe they would need to consume two or more units for their driving to be affected – with a worrying one in seven (14%) believing it takes three or four units or more

?Julie Townsend, Brake's campaigns director, said: "Drink-driving remains a menace on our roads, devastating people's lives every day. A shocking proportion of drivers seem unaware of the dangers of driving the morning after a heavy night, or even small quantities of alcohol. We're appealing to everyone to stay safe over the festive season by planning ahead – make sure you can get home safely, and stay off the booze if you're driving home or early the next day."

"We're calling on the Government to lower our drink drive limit and enable the police to dramatically step up enforcement. These are crucial steps in stamping out drink driving, and eliminating the needless tragedies it causes."

Andy Goldby, Director of Motor Underwriting at Direct Line, said: "Many drivers seem to be oblivious of the risks of driving in the morning, after drinking the night before. The effect of alcohol on driving ability lasts much longer than a couple of hours after drinking. Motorists who have drunk excessive amounts may not feel drunk and may not to be able to smell drink on their breath, however, they are still a danger to pedestrians and other road users. With this week being the busiest for festive parties, we are urging people not to drink if they're driving, and not to drive if they are drinking."

The Government is also being urged to take action on drink-driving following recommendations from parliament's Transport Select Committee the week before last, and an independent review by Sir Peter North earlier this year. The Committee called for drink-drive enforcement and educational campaigns to be stepped up, while Sir Peter North advocated a lowering of the drink-drive limit.

Drink-drivers are responsible for one in six deaths on British roads – in 2009 there were seven drink-drive deaths and 28 serious injuries every week. [3] A further estimated 80 road deaths per year are caused by drivers who are under the drink-drive limit, but who have alcohol in their blood.[4] Research has shown even very small amounts of alcohol affect drivers' ability to drive safely.[5]

Brake is urging people to ensure they can get home safely from festivities by using public transport, booking a taxi or having a designated driver who doesn't drink, and stay off the alcohol if they need to drive early the next day.

There's no way of knowing exactly how long it takes to sober up after drinking, but as a guide you should allow at least an hour to absorb alcohol, plus at least one hour for every unit consumed for your body to rid itself of alcohol.[6] For example, if you finish three pints of strong lager or one bottle of 12% ABV wine (both nine units) at 11pm, you may not be rid of alcohol until at least 9am; it could take much longer depending on factors such as your weight. Coffee, food and sleep don't make you sober up any faster; it just takes time.

Brake is calling on the Government to work towards eliminating drink drive deaths and serious injuries by:

Cutting the limit to 20mg alcohol/100ml blood to send a clear message that it's none for the road. Our limit is currently 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, the highest in Europe. The EC recommends a maximum of 50mg/100ml, [7] but several countries have adopted a zero tolerance limit of 20mg/100ml. Research shows even a small amount of alcohol affect your ability to drive safely by slowing reaction times and distorting judgment [8]. Step up enforcement, by giving police powers (and ensuring they have sufficient resources) to carry out random, targeted and blanket testing. A 2004 study concluded that in the previous three years just 3% of UK drivers had been breath-tested, far below the European average. [9] Some countries, such as New Zealand, test as many as half their driving population annually.[10] The increased threat of being caught, alongside our existing mandatory one year driving ban for drink drivers, should deter drivers who think they can get away with it. Raise awareness among drivers about the dangers of driving after drinking any amount of alcohol, and the threat of being caught. This should include compulsory road safety education delivered in schools to 11-16 year olds, plus widespread media advertising targeting high risk groups.

Read Brake's full recommendations for Government action on drink and drug driving submitted to the Transport Select Committee.

The consequences

Jordan Bell, from Colchester, was her parent's "sunshine". She was just 14 when she was killed by a driver who was just under the legal alcohol limit and had cannabis in his system.

21 March 2008 was a clear bright day. Jordan was attempting to cross the road at a designated crossing on Layer Road in Colchester. She was struck by a speeding car that police estimated was travelling at approximately 40mph on impact in a 30mph zone. Jordan was treated by paramedics at the scene and pronounced dead at Colchester General Hospital sometime later. The driver, Mark Batten, 28, escaped prosecution for drink driving because he was just under the limit. He was fined £750 and banned for one year for speeding and careless driving. Jordan's family will have to spend the rest of their lives coping with their grief.

Jordan's mother Michelle is campaigning for drivers to drink 'not a drop' of alcohol nor take even 'a drag' of any drugs, before driving – that includes making sure they don't drive early the morning after heavy drinking.

Michelle said: "Jordan was our only child. There are no words that can describe the pain and devastation of losing Jordan. We were never able to say goodbye. I'm calling on all drivers to think before they get behind the wheel – don't drive early if you have been drinking the night before. It only takes small amounts of alcohol to kill behind the wheel"

For interviews with Michelle or a Brake spokesperson, call Ellen Booth on 01484 550067 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the survey

The report is based on a survey of 800 drivers and riders carried out by Brake volunteers, at a range of locations across the UK. Every effort was made to ensure that a wide variety of people responded. Brake thanks all volunteers who helped conduct the survey and collate the results.

About Brake

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the six deaths and 70 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (21-27 November 2011). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers and runs a year-round programme of events. Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK1 and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com

Direct Line Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AG. Registered in England and Wales no. 01810801. The Financial Services Authority's Register can be accessed through http://www.fsa.gov.uk

1Based on 2009 FSA returns (policies in force).

End notes

[1] Drivers were asked whether they had driven 'first thing in the morning after drinking a lot of alcohol the night before', in the Direct Line Report on Safe Driving 2009-2011 PART TWO Fit to drive?, Brake and Direct Line, 2010

[2] Opinion Research carried out on behalf of Direct Line of 2,015 UK adults aged 18+ from 12th to 15th November 2010 highlighted the week commencing 13th December when most people will have their work's Christmas party

[3] Provisional data from Reported Road Casualties Great Britain 2009, Department for Transport, 2010

[4] Drinking and driving fact sheet (Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2004)

[5] One academic study showed a significant deterioration in driving skills when drivers had 40mg alcohol per 100ml of blood. Alcohol Consumption Impairs Detection of Performance Errors in Mediofrontal Cortex, The University of Leiden, 2002

[6] A Step-By-Step Guide to Alcohol, Bupa, www.bupa.co.uk

[7] European Commission recommendation on the maximum permitted blood alcohol content (BAC) for drivers of motorised vehicles 2001/115/EC (EC, 2001)

[8] Alcohol Consumption Impairs Detection of Performance Errors in Mediofrontal Cortex, K. Richard Ridderinkhof et al, Science, 2002

[9] SARTRE European drivers and road risk, Part 1. Report on principal report and analyses, INRETS, Arcueil, 2004