ROAD safety experts have urged designated drivers to keep their promise and stay off the booze this Christmas.

Charity Brake said passengers struggle to stand up to these drivers despite a huge shift in public attitudes to drink drivers in the last decade.

“We are appealing to everyone to look after themselves, family and friends this festive season by planning ahead to get home safely and speaking out against drink-driving,” said the charity’s deputy chief executive, Julie Townsend.

“If you drive, pledge to never drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Public attitudes towards drink driving have shifted dramatically, yet people are still being killed and injured by those who continue to take this inexcusable risk.”

Last year saw 280 deaths and 1,200 serious injuries in the UK in crashes caused by drivers over the limit.

t is believed that more deaths can be attributed to drivers who have been drinking but are under the limit.

Brake is now asking the government to reduce the alcohol limit from 80mg per 100ml of blood to just 20mg.

Sergeant Nikki Burt, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “This year’s Christmas drink and drug drive campaign.

“My message to anyone who has a drink at this time of the year is very simple – don’t drive.

“If you are going out cele-brating make sure you organise a designated driver in your group of friends or book a taxi.”

Our changing attitudes

THE survey revealed: Two-thirds of drivers (68 per cent) won’t drive after having a drink, compared to less than half (49 per cent) a decade ago. The remaining one-third (32 per cent) admit driving after drinking some amount of alcohol, or the morning after having a lot to drink, in the past year;
One in ten (10 per cent) admit driving after drinking so much that they think they were certainly or potentially over the legal limit in the past year
Four in five (81 per cent) never drive first thing in the morning after drinking a lot of alcohol, up from 72 per cent a decade ago
While more and more drivers are committing to zero tolerance, passengers are struggling to stand up to drink drivers. Only one-third (36 per cent) said they would refuse to get in the car if their designated driver had been drinking. One in eight (12 per cent) say they have potentially or definitely been a passenger with an over-the-limit driver in the past year.