• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Institute of Alcohol Studies HomepageInstitute of Alcohol Studies

Bringing together evidence, policy and practice to reduce alcohol harm

  • Home
  • About us
    • People
    • Our strategy
    • Small Grants Scheme
    • Networks
    • Vacancies
    • Contact us
  • Publications
  • Explore by Topic
    • Alcohol across society
    • Availability
    • Consumption
    • Economy
    • Health
    • Marketing
    • Price
    • The alcohol industry
    • Transport
    • Violence and crime
    • Help and support
  • News & Comment
    • Latest news and events
    • Blog
    • Alcohol Alert
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • See all
  • Search
News

One in six women drivers admit to drink-driving whilst over the limit

9th September 2014

Research conducted by Social Research Associates on behalf of Direct Line Car Insurance and the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund suggests that millions of women in the UK regularly consume alcohol and take to the roads – around half admitting they’re baffled when it comes to what they can legally drink and drive before getting behind the wheel.

The results of the in-depth study highlights the growing proportion of all drink-driving convictions received by women, which has risen from 8% in 1998 to 17% in 2012. 475 respondents were interviewed directly face-to-face or online during the spring of 2013.

Taking account of mileage driven, the research also shows women are proportionately more likely to be over the legal limit as drivers than men from the age of 30.

Feeling physically ‘OK to drive’ (59%) and the belief that they can just ‘drive carefully’ (31%) are the main explanations women give as to why they’ve driven whilst over the legal limit.

17% felt they had no alternative other than to drink and drive, often due to ‘family emergencies’. A further 14% say they drove whilst over the limit because they thought there was little risk of being caught.

In almost all cases, respondents felt that they were personally able to drink more alcohol than the ‘average woman’ could before they were over the legal limit.

This article was taken from the press release ‘ONE IN SIX WOMEN DRIVERS ADMIT TO DRINK DRIVING WHILST OVER THE LIMIT’. Click here for the report ‘Drinking among British Women and its impact on their pedestrian and driving activities: Women and Alcohol‘.

 

More news items
Health experts prepare to take minimum unit price campaign to Brussels
Event explores European Commission decision to exempt alcohol from EU labelling legislation

Footer

IAS is proud to be a member of

  • Twitter
  • Bluesky
  • Spotify
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Contact us

©2025 Institute of Alcohol Studies

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok