RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC call to action: Road safety: see page 88

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

2.0 Road safety

The 2016 Report on Motoring once again shows strong support among motorists for a lower drink-drive limit across the whole of the UK with 57% in favour. More specifically, 36% think it should be 50mg/100ml and 21% think it should be 20mg/100ml. Opinion is split over whether a lower UK-wide limit of 50mg/100ml would be effective in deterring drink-drivers. Two-fifths (40%) think it would help, against 37% who don’t. Interestingly, 60% of Scottish motorists think a reduction would be effective, which is perhaps a reflection of their positive experience since the law was changed two years ago. Among those who think a lower limit will not have an impact, two-thirds (66%) say this is because they do not expect a change in the law to deter habitual drink-drivers. There was little change in the percentage of motorists who admit to driving under the influence either of illegal drugs or banned

prescription medication: 7% say they have done so in the past 12 months compared with 6% in 2015. There is some evidence to suggest that of those who have driven after taking class A, B or C drugs, more than two-thirds are under 35. But of those who have driven with banned prescription drugs in their system* the age profile is a little different, with 43% in the 35 or over category, 40% aged between 25 and 34, and 17% under 25.

40 % of motorists think a lower drink-drive limit of 50mg/100ml would help deter drink-drivers

43 % of those who have driven with banned prescription drugs in their system* are aged 35 or over

*Small research sample 44