‘Experienced’ motorists most likely to drink and drive 

Experienced motorists between 30 to 50 (44 per cent) are more likely to drink alcohol and drive than any other motorist, according to a new report by Direct Line Car Insurance.

Half (49 per cent) of all British motorists over 25 still drive a vehicle after indulging in alcohol, and of these it’s drivers in their 30-50s who drink the most units.  Among those who drink alcohol before driving, one in 10 will down on average four or more units before taking to the roads – exceeding the recommended amount of three units for women and four for men.

Drink driving is a major problem in the UK with an average of 3,000 people killed or seriously injured each year in drink related collisions and nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.

Not only do 30-50 year olds drink the most units they also ‘drink and drive’ more frequently.  Wine (35 per cent) is the preferred tipple for most people who drive after drinking, followed by lager (33 per cent) and spirits (seven per cent).

Similarly worrying is the drinking behaviour of slightly younger drivers (aged 25-29), with nine per cent of those who drink before driving consuming on average four or more alcohol units – which equates to four small glasses of wine.

The report also questioned young drivers on their parents driving habits and found that close to one in 10 (nine per cent) 18-25 year old drivers say their mum or dad drives over the legal limit and 16 per cent say their folks have been stopped and breathalised by the police.

However it would seem that younger drivers seem to take a firmer stance against drink driving, 47 per cent say they would never drink any alcohol before driving, with seven in 10 (73 per cent) of these believing any drop of booze can affect driving ability.

Emma Holyer, Direct Line’s Car Insurance spokesperson, said:

“In 1965 the government introduced a blood alcohol limit for drivers in the hope it would deter drivers from drink driving and make roads safer.  Our research shows that drivers view this law differently depending on their age group, with far more younger drivers agreeing it’s fundamentally wrong (82 per cent of anti drink drivers) to drink any amount of alcohol before driving a car. We are pleased to see many young motorists view drink driving as socially unacceptable but we’d like to see older drivers setting a better example.”

For more information, log on to www.directline.com/car.

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Emma Holyer /Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2182 / 07894158605
Email: emma.holyer@directline.com

Notes to Editors:

· People who drive at twice the current legal alcohol level are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.

The research was carried out on behalf of Direct Line car insurance by YouGov.  A nationally representative sample of 2,270 GB adults were questioned online between 26th to 28th April 2006.   Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population.    Additionally, a sample of 1,002 drivers aged 18-25 were questioned online between 28th April and 2nd May. Results are unweighted.  YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council. 

Direct Line Insurance plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Calls may be recorded. Conditions apply.