Five million motorists drove over the limit in 2017

One in six drivers have admitted to driving over the legal alcohol limit this year, according to new figures from the RAC.

Around five million drivers believe they have got behind the wheel while over the limit at least once in the past year.

The study, which surveyed more than 1,700 motorists in the UK, said they think they have been guilty of drink-driving, either immediately after consuming alcohol or the morning after a late night drinking session.

Around 5% of motorists surveyed felt sure they were over the limit shortly after having a drink while 3% think they may have been over.

A larger proportion admit to believing they have driven when over the limit the morning after drinking heavily the night before.

The study also found that men are more likely to risk drink-driving than women, both straight after drinking and the morning after.

Londoners were the worst offenders when it came to drinking and driving, with just 74% saying they were sure they had never driven over the limit, compared with the national average of 84%.

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said that the Christmas period is a particularly dangerous time, as more revellers attending parties naturally leads to more people being tempted to get behind the wheel after a few drinks.

“Anyone who has been out celebrating during the festive period should be very mindful of not being over the limit when they go to drive the next day,” he said.

“Anyone who thinks they are likely to have sobered up enough to drive just because they went to bed for a few hours may just be about to ruin someone else’s Christmas as well as their own.”

‘If you are having to think whether you are sober enough to drive, then the answer is you probably aren’t.’

Almost a quarter (24%) of motorists surveyed listed drivers under the influence of drink as one of their top-four concerns.