Rise in women drink-drivers

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As many as 42% of female motorists get behind the wheel after drinking, the survey by breakdown company Green Flag and road safety charity Brake revealed.

The figure for men was 59%, with 25% of men and 11% of women reckoning they had driven after a maximum of two small glasses of wine or the equivalent.

The poll of 2,066 adults also showed that 8% of men and 2% of women had driven after a maximum of three glasses of wine or the equivalent, while 9% of males and 1% of females had got behind the wheel after consuming four of more glasses of wine or the equivalent.

A Brake spokesperson said: "Drink-drivers can no longer be stereotyped as 'eight-pint men', and it is feared part of the problem rests with a high drink-drive limit and confusion over what is 'safe to drink'.

"While women are less likely to run the risk of breaking the drink-drive limit, there are a rising number of female drivers being convicted of drink-driving."

Brake said it was urging the Government to lower the present 80mg legal drink limit to 50mg.

Brake's campaigns head Cathy Keeler added: "People think it won't happen to them, that they won't get caught, they won't be involved in a crash. We must challenge these presumptions in order to change drivers' attitudes and behaviour.

"The thought of getting caught, and the consequences, need to seem a very real prospect for drivers who through selfishness or ignorance continue to put lives at risk by getting behind the wheel after drinking. For drivers who do want to abide by the law, we must make it easy for them to do so by sending out a very clear message - that even one drink is one too many."

Green Flag spokesman Dan Robinson said: "We would encourage all drivers to think about the consequences of driving after having a drink. Even one drink can impair judgment and affect our ability to drive."