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Young, Driving and Drunk 

 

17 June, 2004

 

 

Young, male, on the way home from work via the pub and well versed in the dangers and the penalties if caught. 

 

That profile of a typical drink driver revealed in a police survey has prompted the RAC Foundation to question current education and enforcement methods used to combat drinking and driving.

 

The Foundation is also reminding football fans watching Euro 2004 games after work not to be tempted to drink and drive.

More than seven out of ten of the drink drivers who took part in the study admitted that they had seen or heard publicity campaigns within the previous six months - but offended anyway - while more than half were also aware of the correct penalties for the crime. Two thirds said they did not expect to get caught.

The Foundation is now suggesting that similar in depth analysis of drink driving offences and profiling of offenders is carried out throughout the UK - the other Scottish forces have already committed to this - and the results used to formulate new campaigns specifically aimed at danger groups and as a guide to targeted intelligence led enforcement.

Without this, the Foundation is warning that drink drive casualties - which have risen to the highest level since 1990 - could reach new peaks. The summer months are traditionally the worst times for drink and driving.

The research was undertaken by Fife Police in 2003 and examined the motivating factors for motorists drinking and driving, looked at their perceptions of the offence and their chances of being caught. This was achieved by the voluntary completion of a questionnaire by drivers who failed or refused a breath test or those who returned a borderline amber reading.

The study showed that the majority of drivers were male (85 per cent), almost half were between the ages of 17 and 30 and the majority were in employment and had consumed alcohol in licensed premises. The most popular journey was returning home and 87 per cent indicated that they had not intended to drink and drive - still leaving a shocking 13 per cent who intended to drink and drive from the outset.

Four out of five of the offenders said that they were not worried about the danger of an accident on the way home and the most common reasons for getting behind the wheel were not realising they had consumed too much, arguments with partners, problems getting taxis home or going out for food or cigarettes.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said:

"This survey shows that offenders thought that they were more confident drivers after a drink and were unlikely to be caught. It is worrying that 71 per cent said that they were aware of anti drink drive publicity within the previous six months. 

"Many young drivers seem to consider themselves above the law. They do it because they think that they will get away with it and the perception appears to be that road safety enforcement is carried out by camera and concentrates on speeding.

"This is valuable research which can inform decisions on the most effective forms of education and should influence methods of enforcement. We need to find new ways to tackle this problem both to effectively communicate the dangers and to convince motorists that they will be caught if they drink and drive.

"The facts show that we have a growing problem with drinking and driving in the UK and that there is a need to understand why, despite years of campaigning, the problem still exists to this extent."

The RAC Foundation is also cautioning drivers of the dangers of unintentionally putting themselves over the limit when they quench their thirsts with long cold drinks - unaware of the alcohol content - over the summer. The Fife survey showed the level of confusion about types of alcohol and the quantities that could be consumed before breaching the limit.

According to the RAC Foundation, common drinks of choice for summer parties, barbeques and events are often beers, lagers, ciders or alcopops, with many revellers ignorant of their potency.

"The advice is the same whatever the time of the year", said Edmund King, "If you are going to drink don't drive. Trying to count units of alcohol, back calculating or working out absorption times simply doesn't work as so many other factors come into play.

"The only truly safe method is to stick to soft drinks, nominate a non-drinking driver or arrange a taxi or other transport in advance of the event." 

Consequences of a drink drive conviction may include:

  • A mandatory disqualification for at least a year. (USA equivalent:  driver's license suspension)

  • A possible prison sentence and a fine of up to £5000

  • Possible job loss -- particularly if employment is dependent on a driving licence -- 15 per cent of those convicted are made redundant. Even if a person doesn't need to drive for their job but has a company car then they will almost certainly lose it, too

  • Loss of independence and increased reliance on public transport

  • An increase in insurance premiums by up to five times the original amount, after a drink drive ban

  • An endorsement (demerit points) on the licence for 11 years -- even when the disqualification period is over it may be difficult to hire a car for up to ten years.

 

Footnotes:

  1. The number of refused or positive tests in England and Wales rose by four per cent from 99,500 in 2001 to 103,000 in 2002

  2. The Scottish Executive Criminal Justice Statistical Bulletin shows a national incremental growth in drink driving offences prosecuted since 1997. The last year end figure of 11,782(2002) was an increase of almost 400 on the year before and, in comparison to other offences, almost 500 more than that of common assault

 

Source: The RAC Foundation -- 170604rac.doc