Shocking rise in female drink-drive convictions

Breathe easy: The number of women convicted of drink-driving has almost doubled in recent years

Women accounted for nine per cent of drink-drive convictions in 1998, but this figure had risen to 17 per cent by 2012, the survey revealed.

From car insurance company Direct Line and transport organisation the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, the survey showed 17 per cent of female motorists thought they had driven while over the legal limit in the past year.

As many as 60 per cent of the women polled said they did not know the legal limit, and in almost all cases, respondents felt they were personally able to drink more alcohol than the “average woman” before they were over the legal limit.

Among the women who admitted to drink-driving, the most common reason for doing so was because they felt physically “okay” to drive, as cited by 59 per cent.

Almost a third (31 per cent) thought it would be fine if they just drove carefully, while 17 per cent felt they had no alternative other than to drink and drive, often due to “family emergencies”.

Road safety minister Robert Goodwill said: “Drink-driving wrecks lives, and the personal consequences of a drink-drive conviction can be devastating. In 2013, 803 women failed a breathalyser test after an accident, and that is 803 too many.

“That is why we are cracking down on the minority who drink and drive by introducing a new offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and closing loopholes in the law to make it easier for police to prosecute drink-drivers.

“Our advice is simple; if you are driving have none for the road, as one drink can put you over the limit.”

Steve Maddock, managing director of claims at Direct Line Group, said: “The issue of women and drink-driving is rarely addressed, but when we look at the figures, we can see that this is a real issue.

“Part of the problem is a lack of awareness and confusion as to what constitutes drink-driving and also the misguided belief that in some circumstances, driving while over the limit can be justified.

“While we’d encourage all drivers who drink alcohol to ensure they know the limits, we’d urge them to avoid drinking altogether if they intend to get behind the wheel.”