Millions of drivers could be over the legal drink drive limit in the morning

• More than a third (38%) reveal they were still consuming alcohol after 9pm even though they were driving before 9am the following day
• A third of drivers (31%) have seen a friend or relative travel immediately after drinking alcohol
• Calls for drink drive rehabilitation courses to be mandatory for offenders

More than a third of drivers may have been driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit the morning after consuming several alcoholic drinks the previous night according to new research published by UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

A survey of 1,072 motorists* in June 2025 found that of those who last consumed several alcoholic drinks the prior evening, 38% stopped drinking after 9pm despite needing to drive the following morning before 9am. Worryingly, this figure was one in five (21%) who supped their final drink after 10pm.

Guidance from Drink Aware** states alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, though this varies depending on weight, liver health and metabolism speed. Alcohol Change UK’s unit measurement means consuming three large glasses of wine (12%) or three pints of high strength beer or cider (5.2%) is the equivalent of nine units, therefore stopping drinking at 10pm means there could still be alcohol within the body at 7am or later depending on the person.

The research also found a third (31%) of drivers in the last 12 months had been in the company of a friend or a relative who had been consuming alcohol before that person got into their vehicle or onto their motorcycle. Positively, almost three quarters (72%) warned them that they shouldn’t use their vehicle, indicating the Think! Campaign “Mates Matter***” is having an impact. However, a quarter (23%) did not take any action with 5% of this group believing it was none of their business to say anything. Almost two-thirds (62%) of drivers believe that the increasing prevalence of zero-alcohol alternatives can play an important role in reducing drink driving.

Separately, there were very high levels of support for drink drive rehabilitation courses, with eight in ten (80%) saying such courses are vital to reducing reoffending. A similar amount (81%) said such courses should become mandatory for anyone who has been convicted for drink drive-related offences, rather than the status quo of it being an offered option with no compulsion to complete the course. The impact of alcohol on road safety is seen as the most effective part of these programmes by 83%, with respondents also signalling support for additional modules that focus on the impact drink driving can have on victims.

In 2022, an estimated 300 people were killed in collisions involving at least one driver or rider over the drink drive limit in Great Britain, the highest since 2009****. In Northern Ireland, there were 63 fatalities***** in the same year. Updated 2023 figures for Great Britain are due later this month. Department for Transport****** data shows that July has the highest number of drink drive-related casualties, higher than any other calendar month and worse than December which is traditionally seen as the period where more people are tempted to drink drive.

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said:
“Drink driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others.

“Even if they are just inside the legal limit, the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times. Moreover, consuming alcohol impacts on sleep quality, so at best they will be driving tired, with a groggy head and have slower reaction times, at worst they will be breaking the law or be involved in a serious collision.

“Our advice is always ‘None for the Road’, which applies when you’re driving to a social gathering. If you are socialising the night before and need to use your vehicle the following morning, you should exercise caution in what you consume or delay your journey the following day.

“Many tend to associate a spike in drink driving over Christmas, but summertime is also a high-risk period, with people making the most of outdoor social gatherings and pub gardens.”

Chief Constable Jo Shiner KPM, Roads Policing Lead for England and Wales said:

“We know that July is the worst month for collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured where drink or drugs is a factor and this is unacceptable.

“There is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel when you are impaired through drink or drugs and this includes the morning after. If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk.

“Throughout the month of July, we are running Operation Spotlight across the country targeting the fatal four which includes drink and drug driving. Officers will be out on the roads and whilst we cannot be everywhere we can be anywhere.

“When you are stopped by police you will be prosecuted and banned from driving. You will also be fined and could go to prison.”

Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety at National Highways, said:

“The statistics are concerning and act as a timely reminder to consider the implications of a previous evening’s alcohol consumption before driving the following morning.

“Everyone using the road network has the right to complete their journey in safety and without it being jeopardised by others.

“Getting behind the wheel with alcohol in your system impairs your driving ability and puts lives at risk.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

*Research carried out on behalf of IAM RoadSmart by Online95 in June 2025

**https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/information-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-the-law/drink-driving/can-i-drive-the-morning-after-drinking-alcohol
***https://www.think.gov.uk/campaign/a-mate-doesnt-let-a-mate-drive/
****https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-involving-illegal-alcohol-levels-2022/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-involving-illegal-alcohol-levels-2022
*****https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/system/files/publications/infrastructure/Fatal-and-Serious-%28KSI%29-road-traffic-collisions-caused-by-Drink-Driving-Northern-Ireland-2018-2022.pdf
******Drink drive related casualties by month (DfT: RAS2011):

Supporting assets:

Interviews:

For interviews, contact the IAM RoadSmart press office on press.office@iam.org.uk / 020 8996 9777
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy & Standards
Harriet Hernando, Press & PR Manager
Rebecca Dundon, Press Officer

About IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart is a road safety charity providing advanced driver and rider training in the UK. It has a vision of a society where all road users can safely use the public highways together.

IAM RoadSmart was formed in March 1956 and has around 70,000 members and 5,000 volunteers that support its campaigns on road safety. At any one time there are more than 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses.

The charity also delivers courses in the workplace. To find out more about how IAM RoadSmart can help with fleet and work training visit www.iamcommercial.co.uk

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart go to: www.iamroadsmart.com
IAM RoadSmart is a provider of drink drive rehabilitation courses: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/drink-drive

Follow us:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMRoadSmart

X (formerly Twitter): @IAMRoadSmart

Media centre: https://media.iamroadsmart.com/

About the IAM RoadSmart Opinion Panel:

IAM RoadSmart / Online95 conducted 1,072 online surveys amongst UK motorists in June 2025. Motorists were defined as personally holding a full current UK driving licence and driving a vehicle and / or riding a motorcycle at least once a month. Survey data was recruited to quotas of, and weighted to, estimated age and gender profiles of DVLA UK Driving License profiles.

ENDS ALL