‘Chilling’ number of UK drivers caught drink-driving four times or more

Hundreds of drivers have been caught driving over the limit at least four times, according to figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

A freedom of information request by the Press Association showed 27,837 people were convicted of the offence multiple times in the 11 years to 20 July 2024.

Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions.

The figures relate to the number of DR10 endorsements on driving records, which last for 11 years from the date of the offence and are given to motorists driving or attempting to drive while above the legal alcohol limit.

Road safety groups said the figures highlight the need for ministers to consider forcing reoffenders to have breathalysers fitted to their cars.

Alcolocks – which are used in several European countries including France, Belgium, Italy and Denmark – prevent a vehicle’s ignition from starting unless a person passes a breath test.

‘Something needs to change’

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “It’s chilling to see a proportion of the driving public remain intent on taking charge of a car while intoxicated, even after they’ve already been caught by the police on at least one occasion.

“The rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving is now at a similar level to where it was in the late 1980s, so it’s clear something needs to change.

“Drivers need to be prevented from drinking and driving in the first place, so there’s a good argument for mandating alcolocks be fitted to vehicles driven by anyone previously convicted.”

William Porter, policy and communications manager at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: “The sheer scale of reoffending is deeply troubling and demonstrates the need to re-evaluate our approach to reducing drink-driving.

“Measures should include an expansion of drink-drive rehabilitation courses which lower the rate of reoffending among those who take them against those who do not.

“Additionally, serious consideration should be given to require repeat offenders to have alcolocks fitted to their vehicle.”

New road safety strategy

Department for Transport figures show an estimated 300 people were killed in crashes on Britain’s roads involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in 2022.

That was up from 260 the previous year and was the highest total since 2009 when 380 were recorded.

The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

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Nowhere else in Europe has a limit above 50mg/100ml. The Scottish government reduced its limit to that level in 2014.

A DfT spokesperson said: “The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this government. That’s why we have committed to delivering a new road safety strategy – the first in over a decade.

“We will set out next steps on this in due course.”