Second drink 'can double chances of fatal road accident'

A campaign has been launched to warn motorists that a second alcoholic drink can double the chance of being in a fatal collision.

The advert by the Department for Transport's Think! campaign was produced after research showed one in 10 people said they would drive after having having two or more drinks.

The survey of 781 drivers in England and Wales found that this figure increases to almost one in five (19%) among men aged 18-34.

Just half (51%) of motorists claimed they would not consider consuming any alcohol before driving.

Road safety minister Andrew Jones said: "Over the past 30 years, drink-drive deaths have fallen significantly, but every death or serious injury is one too many.

"The best way for drivers to keep themselves and other road users safe is simple: don't drink and drive."

Sarah Sillars, chief operating officer of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, commented: "Many of the people we work with on our drink-drive rehabilitation courses aren't repeat offenders. Many are drivers who thought that a second one couldn't hurt.

"Know your limits and know the legal limit. Getting that second drink calculation wrong is easily avoided just by remembering that if you drive, don't drink."