The latest TTC survey suggests motorists don’t fully understand the impact of drink and drugs on their ability to drive
Key Findings
- 11% of motorists surveyed by TTC have driven despite knowing they have consumed more than the legal drink drive limit, with men more likely to do so
- One in four said they have driven after having a drink or two, but confident they had consumed less than the legal drink drive limit
- However, 23% of all motorists surveyed admit they don’t know what the legal drink drive limit is
- Nearly a fifth of respondents (19%) admit to accepting a lift from someone who has drunk alcohol or taken drugs, with 18–24-year-olds more likely to do so
- 11% of motorists in TTC’s survey did not believe that if you are found guilty of drink driving, you will receive a criminal conviction
- Motorists wrongly think that after an evening of drinking, a glass of water before bed, or having seven hours sleep or eating a hearty breakfast the next morning will mean they are safe to drive to work
Drink driving rehabilitation expert TTC is urging businesses to ensure their company vehicle and grey fleet drivers pause for thought before getting behind the wheel this festive season. Sobering findings from a TTC poll revealed that 11% of drivers confess to driving after consuming more than the legal drink drive limit, but this figure could be substantially higher with one in four motorists admitting that they don’t actually know what the drink drive limit is.
With the most current figures from the Department for Transport confirming that road fatalities as a result of drink driving are the highest they have been since 2009 , TTC believes businesses operating fleets of vehicles can play a crucial role in safeguarding the UK’s roads.
TTC says there’s more to consider than duty of care alone. For a business reliant on its employees’ driving, a driving ban of a year or more will have a serious impact on productivity and profitability and may mean the employer has to recruit replacement drivers. The individual themselves may miss out on earnings or even lose their job depending on the terms and conditions of their employment.
“Businesses have a lot to lose if their staff are caught driving under the influence,” continues David Marsh. “Thanks to our background in pioneering offender training for police forces across the UK, we can offer some incredibly effective driver behaviour change education. This, coupled with random and with-cause employee screening can prove a powerful force in helping to stop drink and drug driving.”
As businesses ramp-up corporate entertaining this festive season, TTC’s research also shows that while some respondents said they would not drink drive themselves, almost one in five (19%) say they have knowingly accepted a lift from a driver who has drunk alcohol or taken recreational drugs. Even as a passenger, an employee could receive the same criminal conviction as their ‘designated driver’ if the driver is caught drink or drug driving.
Worryingly, those aged 18-24 are the most likely to accept a lift from someone who is likely to be over the drink drive limit or taken recreational drugs. This is especially concerning as 17–24-year-old men are overrepresented in deaths and serious injuries involving drink driving.
Furthermore, motorists didn’t appear to understand how alcohol metabolises in the body. Many drivers surveyed thought a glass of water, a sleep or a fry-up would ‘sort them out.’ The good news, however, is that 50% of motorists surveyed said they always leave 24 hours before driving after having a drink.
Know the facts
- The NHS recommends adults drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across 3 days or more. That’s around 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer.
- In the UK if a driver is found to be over the drink-drive limit, and/or driving while impaired by alcohol, they can receive a maximum penalty of six months in prison, an unlimited fine and an automatic driving ban of at least one year.
- Drivers who have been found guilty of drink-driving and who have been banned for 12 months or more may be offered the chance to take a rehabilitation course to reduce their driving ban.
- The Police confirm: “It’s impossible to get alcohol out of your system quickly, it always takes time. A shower, a cup of coffee or other ways of ‘sobering up’ may make you feel better but won’t remove the alcohol from your system.”
- Drivers can be convicted of drug driving even if they only took prescribed medicine, so check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.
- The Police confirm:
- If you are found guilty of drink driving, you will receive a criminal record:
- You can be sent to prison on your first drink driving conviction
- A UK drink drive conviction may impact your ability to visit other countries
- The minimum driving ban because of a first conviction for drug or drink driving is 12 months, increasing to three years if convicted twice within ten years
- If you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
- The Government confirms:
- A drink driving conviction remains on a licence for between four and 11 years
- A drug driving conviction remains on a licence for four years
- One in five people admitted they do not know the NHS guidelines on alcohol consumption
- Only 9% of respondents correctly identified the recommended units for women (14 units per week) and 17% for men (also 14 units per week)
