A new study has revealed a concerning trend of "morning after" drink-driving, as police forces across the UK launch a summer crackdown on impaired drivers.

Research by the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart found that more than a third (38%) of drivers admit to consuming alcohol after 9pm, despite planning to drive before 9am the following day.

Alarmingly, one in five (21%) had their final drink after 10 pm.

This new data comes as Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that July has the highest number of drink-driving related casualties, surpassing even the traditionally high-risk December period.

Nicholas Lyes, Director of Policy and Standards at IAM RoadSmart, warned: "Drink-driving is a killer, and drivers may be unwittingly getting into their vehicle in the morning unaware that they could be doing so illegally if they have been drinking alcohol the night before, posing a serious threat to the safety of others."

He emphasised that even if a driver is just within the legal limit, "the level of alcohol in their system will impair their reaction times."

The guidance from Drink Aware states that alcohol is removed from the body at approximately one unit per hour, though this can vary.

Consuming just three large glasses of wine or three pints of high-strength beer or cider, equivalent to nine units, could mean alcohol remains in the system until 7am or later if drinking stops at 10pm.

The IAM RoadSmart survey of 1,072 motorists also highlighted public concern about impaired driving.

Nearly a third (31%) of respondents had been with a friend or relative who consumed alcohol before driving, with almost three-quarters (72%) warning them not to drive. However, one in four (23%) took no action, with 5% believing it was "none of their business.

There is strong public support for measures to combat drink-driving, with 80% of drivers believing rehabilitation courses are "vital to reducing reoffending." A similar number, 81%, stated such courses should be mandatory for those convicted of drink-driving offences, rather than being an optional choice.

In 2022, an estimated 300 people were killed in collisions involving at least one driver over the drink-drive limit in Great Britain, the highest figure since 2009.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, roads policing lead for England and Wales, stressed that there is "no excuse" for driving impaired, including the morning after. "If you choose to do so you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk," she stated.

Police are running Operation Spotlight throughout the summer, targeting drink and drug driving.

Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety at National Highways, echoed these concerns, stating: "Getting behind the wheel with alcohol in your system impairs your driving ability and puts lives at risk."

Lyes reiterated IAM RoadSmart's advice: "Our advice is always ‘none for the road’... If you are socialising the night before and need to use your vehicle the following morning, you should exercise caution in what you consume or delay your journey the following day."

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