Drivers given warning as July is the most popular month for drink driving

Data from insurance comparison website Confused.com has revealed that July is the worst month for drink driving in the UK.

During July of 2022, the police made 4,217 arrests for drink driving, with the most taking place in London, Northern Ireland and Somerset.

Louise Thomas, a motor expert at Confused.com, explained why drink driving is never a good idea.

She said: “If you’re drinking alcohol, don’t drive. Doing so could have huge consequences. Not just on your driving record, but you could be putting other road users’ safety at risk too.

“If you need to get home the same day, the sensible option is to ask someone to pick you up, take public transport or even book accommodation for the evening.”

Confused.com explained that July is typically the most popular month for drink driving in the UK due to the longer days and hotter weather, which often encourage friends to meet.

It is also a time in which more people have extra time off work, giving them more of an opportunity to socialise at pubs or bars.

In a survey of motorists conducted by the company, 10 percent of UK drivers felt more likely to be arrested for drink driving during the summer, whilst 20 percent believed they may be caught drink driving during the Christmas holidays.

However, Confused.com’s survey also highlighted that some motorists aren’t aware of how long it takes for the effects of alcohol to wear off, with 33 percent of drivers surveyed stating that they had driven the morning after drinking.

Louise explained that, whilst you may feel fine the morning after drinking alcohol, it could still be incredibly dangerous.

“Don’t forget that alcohol can stay in your system hours after drinking, including the morning after. So if you find yourself in a position to drive the day after drinking, you should check first that you are safe to get behind the wheel.”

Throughout 2022, 61,769 people in the UK were caught over the drink driving limit, which is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, or 35 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in Scotland.

Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol can severely increase reaction times and can alter your judgement, meaning other road users can be put at risk.

If a police officer finds that you are over this limit, you could face an unlimited fine, a six month prison sentence and a driving ban for at least one year.