Weddings drive motorists to drink

Thousands of wedding guests are falling foul of drink drive laws this year, according to new research from safe driver champion, Privilege Insurance.

Almost one in three (32 per cent) drivers at weddings admitted to drinking over the legal limit while almost one in ten (9 per cent) drivers took to their cars within three hours of having a drink.

In the most serious cases, over one in six (16 per cent) drivers consumed more than 10 units of alcohol - of which, almost one in ten (nine per cent) then got behind the wheel of their car. Of those drivers who have driven after drinking at a wedding, almost one in five (18 per cent) drove over 50 miles.

And it seems that alcohol is affecting these motorists' driving abilities with over one in ten (13 per cent) of those who have driven after drinking at a wedding admitting to driving dangerously - including breaking the speed limit, taking their eyes off the road and drifting out of a lane.

But it is not just drivers to blame. The Privilege research shows that three per cent of wedding guests have actively given alcoholic drinks to other guests at a wedding, knowing they were later going to drive. However, a conscientious five per cent of guests have refused to get in a car when the driver has been over the limit.

As a result of the findings, Privilege is urging wedding guests to take a taxi number with them or make alternative arrangements to ensure they don't drink and drive after enjoying the festivities of a wedding.

Ian Parker, Managing Director of Privilege Insurance, said: "While drink driving is traditionally associated with Christmas, it's also usual to enjoy a couple of glasses of bubbly at weddings. But it is clear that many wedding guests are putting themselves and other road users at risk by being over the legal limit when they head home from wedding receptions.

"Although we want people to have a great time at weddings this summer, we urge guests not to get into their cars until they've allowed sufficient time for the alcohol from the night before to leave their system - waiting roughly one hour after the festivities have finished for every unit of alcohol consumed. For example if you've had a glass of champagne and three pints of standard strength lager, it would be advisable to wait for at least 7 hours once you've finished drinking, before getting back in the car."