22 million Brits accept lifts from drunk drivers

• 42 per cent of people have got into a car despite believing the driver to be intoxicated
• One in eight admit that despite knowing they were in potential danger, they didn’t want to upset the driver by refusing lift
• More than half of Londoners have been driven by someone under the influence
   

Nearly 22 million¹ UK adults have got into a car knowing or suspecting the driver to be intoxicated, reveals new research² from Direct Line Car Insurance. Shockingly, a fifth (20 per cent) of these passengers admit to making no attempt to stop the drunk or suspected drunk driver from remaining behind the wheel.

Worryingly, 29 per cent of passengers said they did not know the driver was intoxicated until it was too late, and the journey had begun. A further 13 per cent spoke to the driver before getting in the car and made their own judgement on whether they were safe to drive.  One in nine (11 per cent) told the driver to not get behind the wheel before the journey started but still rode in the car after being ignored.

It appears getting into a car with a driver under the influence is often a case of ‘the least drunk one drives,’ as a third (31 per cent) said they didn’t take any action because they were also intoxicated. Valuing their relationship with the drunk behind the wheel above their potential safety was reported by many people as the motivation behind not saying anything to the driver. One in eight (16 per cent) admit that despite knowing they were in potential danger, they didn’t want to upset the driver, while one in nine (11 per cent) were concerned it might damage their relationship with the person. 

Table one: Reasons why people did not act when someone was drink driving/suspected of drink driving

Source: Direct Line Car Insurance 2018

On a regional level, Londoners are most likely to have suspected or known that their driver was intoxicated having been a passenger in their car, with 56 per cent of adults – nearly four million people – in the capital having been in this situation. At the other end of the scale, the East Midlands (37 per cent) and Scotland (38 per cent) have the lowest proportion of adults who have knowingly been driven by a drunk driver.

Table two: Regional percentage of adults who have known or suspected that their driver was intoxicated when they were a passenger

Source: Direct Line Car Insurance 2018

Rob Miles, director of car insurance at Direct Line, commented: “Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous for drivers, passengers and all road users. Everyone has a different tolerance to alcohol and this can be changeable, so it is difficult to judge if you are under or over the limit after just one drink. While you may feel fine, but your reaction times will be slower, and the risks of an accident are significantly increased. That is why we are very clear with our advice to not drive at all if you’ve had one drink.”

Despite the scourge of drink-driving, family comes first for parents with only five per cent saying they would enforce the law and contact the police immediately if they suspected their child to be driving under the influence. Even fewer adults would contact the police immediately if their partner was driving under the influence (four per cent). Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are more likely to call the police if they suspect a stranger is driving while intoxicated (33 per cent).
 

Miles continues: “If you are caught for drink-driving, you risk prosecution and potentially a driving ban. A drink-driving conviction can also seriously affect the cost of your car insurance, so we would urge people to plan ahead and use public transport if they know they will be drinking that day or the morning after a night out.” 
 

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

• ¹849 of the respondents answered they had got in a car when they knew or suspected the driver was intoxicated. 51,767,000 *(849/2007) 21,898,447
• ²Research completed by Opinium amongst 2007 UK adults between 22 May and 24 May 2018
• ³Statistics published by Drink Driving Facts

  http://www.drinkdrivingfacts.com/drinkdriving/drink_driving_facts.aspx

• ⁴Figures for Northern Ireland, the North East and Wales are for indicative purposes only due to small base size
  
  

For further information please contact:

Chloe French 

PR Manager 

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 831 715

Email: Chloe.French@directlinegroup.co.uk
 

Antonia Green

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Antonia.green@citigatedewerogerson.com

0207 282 2967
 

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/car-cover