More driving the morning after

The number of motorists in Britain driving after drinking excessively the night before is on the increase, it was revealed yesterday.

As many as 38 per cent of drivers and motorcyclists said they had taken to the road after a heavy night’s drinking, compared with only 28 per cent in a similar poll seven years ago.

The latest survey, from road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line, showed that 45 per cent reckoned they would need to consume two or more units of alcohol for their driving to be affected. As many as 14 per cent believed it would take three, four or more units to have an effect. Overall, 35 per cent of the 800 drivers/riders surveyed admitted driving after drinking alcohol (any amount) at some stage during the last year.

Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend 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.