The number of motorists who have admitted to drink-driving has doubled in the last four years, research has suggested.
According to the 2016 RAC Report on Motoring, 6% of drivers admitted to driving while over the limit in the last year, up from 3% in 2012.
The breakdown company also found that the number of people who are sure they haven’t driven whilst over the legal limit dropped by 9% – from 89% in 2012 to 80% this year.
Government statistics released this week also revealed the number of casualties reported as a result of drink-driving accidents also increased.
According to provisional statistics for 2015, there were 8530 casualties last year, an increase on 2014’s figure of 8210, while the number of accidents involving drink-drivers increased from 5620 in 2014 to 5770 last year.
“Successive campaigns over a number of years have been effective in making drink-driving more socially unacceptable, but clearly a focus needs to remain on this so that accident rates as a result of driving under the influence do not now start rising on a more regular basis,” said RAC public affairs manager, Nick Lyes. “We continue to believe the Government should look at the merits of a lower drink-drive limit in England and Wales, bringing it in line with Scotland and many other European countries. This data will undoubtedly add to the argument that the limit should be reviewed.”