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Brits urged to stop friends from drink-driving

Nearly four in 10 people (37%) have friends who they believe have driven while being over the limit.

This year’s Christmas THINK! campaign urges people not to let their mates drink and drive

That’s according to new RAC research published as this Government’s THINK! Christmas drink-drive campaign urges young men to stop their friends from drink-driving.

The campaign, which launches today (14 December), sees the release of three films based on the simple message that friends need to step in and stop their friends from getting behind the wheel after drinking. This is backed up by the RAC research that shows one in four (28%) of the 1,865 motorists questioned for the survey were unprepared to try to talk a friend who they thought might be over the limit out of driving.

The RAC research also found only 38% of respondents claimed to have a zero-alcohol policy when driving to a social function. Just over a quarter (27%) say they will have one small alcoholic drink, such as half a pint, shandy, small wine, small spirit mixed, followed by non-alcoholic drinks and then drive home. One in 10 (10%) could be risking being over the limit by having one large alcoholic drink, such as a pint of beer or lager, large wine or a large spirit mixed, and then non-alcoholic drinks and drive home. And 2% say they will have two alcoholic drinks and drive home.

RAC road safety spokesperson Pete Williams said: “Regrettably, we have seen the number of people who admit to having driven while over the limit increase by 50% in the past 12 months from 8% to 12% so we welcome this hard-hitting campaign. It delivers a strong message that drink-driving is not acceptable, and also encourages people to speak up if they see their friends doing it.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.