British Adults Have A "Lax Attitude" Towards Drink Driving

One in three Britons would happily accept a lift from somebody who they knew had been drinking alcohol.

A recent report conducted on behalf of non-profit organisation 'Don't Be That Someone' showed that a mere one in ten people would always prevent someone from getting behind the wheel after drinking.

The UK currently has one of the highest drink-driving limits in Europe, with motorists passing a breath test if they have less than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

Road safety lobbyists have urged the government to lower this to 50 mg, while non-profit organisation Brake has called for the introduction of a 20 mg limit.

The recent  findings suggested that many Britons have a lax attitude towards drink driving and a lot of people also underestimate the dangers of using their vehicle the morning after consuming alcohol.

Around one in three motorists admitted to driving the morning after having either four pints of beer, four glasses of wine or nine shots of spirits. In many cases, people are still unsafe to drive even if they have been sleeping for a few hours.

Mike McAdam, founder of 'Don't Be That Someone', thinks that as well as targeting potential drink drivers, more campaigns need to be aimed at their passengers.

"We want passengers to turn down lifts from friends who have been drinking and find themselves and their would-be drivers another way home - and that's not a lot to ask now that buses and minicabs are so accessible and affordable," he commented.

The survey was conducted shortly after the Department for Transport released details of fatalities attributed to drunk drivers in 2012.

Some 280 people were killed in accidents that involved a motorist who was under the influence of alcohol, accounting for 16 per cent of all road deaths during the 12-month period.

This was a 17 per cent increase on the previous year, resulting in more calls for the government to tighten up the nation's drink-driving laws.

Expert Opinion

This is very concerning research and it suggests there remains plenty to be done to change attitudes towards drink-driving. It is vital that campaigns and initiatives continue to raise awareness of the issue and the consequences it can have on so many people. <br/> <br/>“The decision to drink-drive does not just affect a driver and his or her passengers, but also other road users. Sadly, through our work we have seen numerous cases when people have suffered life-changing injuries or even been fatally injured as a result of drink-driving. <br/> <br/>“Anyone who gets behind the wheel should put safety at the top of their list of priorities.” Neil Whiteley - Partner