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CHAPTER FIVE: WHY DRINK AND DRIVE?
Situation and circumstance
5.1 As shown in Chapter 3, certain demographic characteristics affect the likelihood that a person will drive within a few hours of consuming alcohol or when they suspect they might be over the limit.
5.2 The following chapter considers why people exhibit this behaviour. First, it considers situational factors such as the time the incident occurred, where the incident occurred, and the purpose of the journey. It then looks at respondents' attitudes to drink-driving and considers whether certain attitudes are associated with this behaviour.
5.3 A key question this chapter seeks to answer is what motivates people to drink and drive, balancing the issue of whether drink-driving is due to specific opinions held by certain types of drivers or whether, as the findings seem to support, it has more to do with the circumstances surrounding the incident.
5.4 In the survey, drivers who had, in the past 12 months, driven after drinking alcohol or driven when they thought they were over the limit were asked a series of questions related to the last occasion that they had done so to determine the situation in which this had happened. The charts that follow show the results for those who had driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol. While this group is primarily composed of those who believed themselves to be within the legal drink-drive limit, some of those included in this group suspected they might have been over the limit on the occasion described. The base size for those who had driven when they thought they were over the limit in the last twelve months (n=53) is too small to allow their responses to these questions to be reported separately in detail in the survey results. The report, therefore, only comments on any trends that were particularly strong among this group.
5.5 To expand the survey information, drivers in the focus groups discussed the circumstances in which they might drive after drinking any amount of alcohol and in the depth interviews spoke about the occasions on which they had driven when they believed they were over the limit (since 6 depth interviews were undertaken with people who had previously been disqualified from driving or who thought they had driven while over the limit in the past year).
5.6 There was consensus among focus group participants that the situations when they tended to drive after drinking at or marginally over the limit were not planned or premeditated; they were circumstantial and often considered outwith their own control. The depth interviews with individuals who suspected they had driven after drinking over the legal limit, and with those who had been disqualified due to their drink-driving, agreed with this assessment. Drinking and driving at or over the limit was seen often as a by-product of activities such as attending a social event, travelling to visit friends, or travelling a short distance or to somewhere perceived to be poorly connected by public transport.
When did it happen?
5.7 Firstly, some detail about when the last incidence of driving after drinking occurred is considered. Survey respondents were asked a number of questions about the last occasion on which they had driven after drinking any alcohol. Figure 5.1 shows the time of day and day of the week this happened.
Figure 5.1 Time of day and day of week on the last occasion when driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol
Base: All who had driven after drinking alcohol in the past 12 months (254)
5.8 On the majority of occasions that respondents drove within a few hours of having something alcoholic to drink, it was the evening (57%). 20% said that it was late at night, 16% said it was daytime and 7% said it was the morning after. Those who had driven over the limit had done so at each of these times of day in similar proportions, although a larger proportion said that they had done so the morning after. About two-thirds of these incidents occurred at the weekend (Friday to Sunday) while the remaining third occurred during the week (Monday to Thursday). This did not appear to differ for those who thought they were over the limit.
5.9 Respondents were also asked how long they waited after their last alcoholic drink before driving. The results are shown in Figure 5.2.
Figure 5.2 Length of time between drinking alcohol and driving on the last occasion when driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol
Base: All who had driven after drinking alcohol in the past 12 months (254)
5.10 The largest percentage of those who drove after drinking alcohol waited between one and 2 hours after their last alcoholic drink before driving (31%) followed by between half an hour and one hour (25%). It was more common to wait longer than 2 hours (31%) than less than half an hour (13%). Men were more likely than women to have driven within half an hour of having had a drink (20% of men compared with 4% of women). There was some indication that those who were heavier drinkers, based on their reported alcohol consumption in the past week, were likely to wait shorter periods prior to driving than lighter drinkers.
5.12 Those who suspected that they had driven when they were over the limit were more likely to say that they had waited more than 4 hours before driving, but similar percentages of drivers had driven within half an hour or between half an hour and one hour of drinking.
5.13 These basic details about the last occasion on which survey respondents drove after drinking alcohol were illuminated by participants in the qualitative research. Specific times when people said they would drive after drinking included driving after what they termed 'casual nights out' and following a meal. They also discussed driving the morning after drinking alcohol. These specific occasions are discussed in turn below.
Casual nights out
5.14 There was a view that driving after drinking occurred on casual nights out, often on a weekday, involving a couple of drinks with friends, rather than a 'serious' social night. Across the focus groups, participants stated that they would not take the car at the weekend or on a serious night out where excessive alcohol will be consumed.
"I don't ever take the car on a weekend though. It's more if you're playing down the Pits on a Wednesday night and then you go for a pint with one of your mates, you have a couple of pints and you've got the motor because you've took it down. You never think you're going to go on a session and you take the motor." (Male, 17-20, C1/C2, Urban)
5.15 This finding is in contrast to the results of the survey, where 2 out of 3 drivers said the last occasion on which they drove after drinking any alcohol was at the weekend. At the same time, the remaining one in 3 drivers drove after drinking on a weekday. This, and the fact that more than half of drivers in the survey said that they last drove in the evening after consuming alcohol as opposed to late at night for example, suggests this might have happened on shorter, and perhaps 'less serious' nights out.
Following a meal
5.16 Drivers had a greater tendency to admit to driving after drinking alcohol when out for a meal. The rationale that the alcohol was likely to have less effect if combined with food was widely shared, meaning a meal with a glass of wine was more socially acceptable than stand-alone drinking. For some, having a drink and a meal and then driving was not considered 'proper drinking'.
"We don't actually class having a beer over a meal or a glass of wine with a couple of friends as drinking. We think of drinking as being much more." (Male, 25-34, BC1, Urban)
"It's the same as when you're out with the girlfriend, getting a meal or something. You have 2 or 3 pints with that and you feel fine and you just drive up the road and then go out." (Male, 17-20, C1/C2, Urban)
5.17 Those who admitted to driving when they suspected they were over the legal limit often used the same reasoning when justifying their drinking behaviour; that having a meal somehow allowed greater alcohol consumption with less associated risk:
"I would have at least 2, maybe 3 pushing it with a big meal, then drive later on at the end of the night." ( OTL female, 35-49, B, Rural)
"If I'm having a big meal, I feel as though it's not as bad as if you were just drinking." ( OTL female, 35-49, B. Rural)
The morning after
5.18 In the survey, only one in 14 (7%) drivers said the last occasion they had driven after drinking took place the morning after drinking the previous day. Given most drivers (75%) in the survey drove every day, and virtually all (92%) drove at least 2 or 3 times a week, in reality it is likely that morning-after driving would coincide with consuming alcohol the previous day more often than is indicated from these results. A reason for this under-reporting became apparent in the qualitative research. Driving the morning after a night of drinking was considered by the majority to be a separate issue from driving the same night. For many, morning-after driving was seen as less due to intent and more likely to be accidental. As a result, many focus group participants did not recognise this as drink-driving and there was a tendency to make more allowances for people driving at this time.
5.19 Although this was the prevailing view, an alternative viewpoint suggested by one respondent was that driving the same night as drinking would lead to feeling less guilt than would be the case in the morning when a driver was more conscious of what he or she was doing.
"You feel it more [in the morning] I think. You've got a clearer head but you know you've still got alcohol in your system, whereas if you have a couple of pints you think, well I can be safe and drive home. You probably wouldn't feel as guilty about doing it." (Male, 17-20, B/C1, Rural)
5.20 When respondents considered the prevailing view further, they did acknowledge that alcohol could remain in the system in the morning, meaning there was a risk of driving when over the legal limit. There was general recognition that morning-after driving was potentially more of an issue than social evening drinking and driving, because it was less easy to quantify the amounts in the system.
"…a lot of people take more of a chance in the morning because they don't know if they are still over the limit or not." (Male, 17-20, B/C1, Rural)
5.21 Respondents spoke of their difficulty in assessing the levels of alcohol in their system the morning after, and recognised the inherent risks involved in taking the car the next morning when potentially over the legal limit.
"The morning after a night, you might not get in till 6, 7 o'clock and you're up for work 2 or 3 hours later. You're probably still over the limit but you think, because you've been to sleep, you're alright." (Male, 17-20, C1/C2, Urban)
5.22 A small number of people referred to a calculation they used to estimate alcohol in the body the morning after, whereby they believe it takes the body one hour to break down one unit of alcohol after which it is no long in their system.
5.23 There was some confusion as to what this meant in practice: did the alcohol leave the system straight away, after the last drink or after sleeping?
"Like in the morning if you've been ill on Saturday night and you've had six pints or something, twelve nips or something, you go to bed at 2 o'clock and you wake up the next day at eleven or twelve, you think to yourself, am I going to be all right or am I no?." (Male, 17-20, B/C1, Rural)
5.24 As a result, respondents identified the need for greater guidance regarding how long alcohol took to get out of the system and what could affect delaying the process.
"Some more guidelines I think as well would help… Well, sort of say, for an average women that has maybe been out on a Saturday night and drunk medium to a lot, you will need X amount of hours at least before you're capable of driving. Nobody's ever told me that." (Female, 35-49, C1/C2, Rural).
Where did it happen?
5.25 Survey respondents were also asked about where they were driving and the nature of their journey. As shown in Figure 5.3, the large majority of respondents who had driven within a few hours of having something alcoholic to drink were driving to their home (88%), with only 12% driving to anywhere else. The pattern was similar for those who thought they might have been over the limit, though a slightly larger proportion were driving to a location other than their home.
5.26 Respondents were most commonly driving from a pub/bar/club or restaurant (46%) or a friend's or relative's home (36%). There were far lower percentages of respondents driving either from their home (7%) or from somewhere else (11%). Again, a similar pattern was evident among those who were driving when they suspected they might have been over the limit.
Figure 5.3 Purpose of journey on the last occasion when driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol
Base: All who had driven after drinking alcohol in the past twelve months (254)
5.27 The patterns of where people were driving from and to were confirmed in the qualitative research. People usually described returning home following a night out in a bar or restaurant or at someone else's house.
5.28 Figure 5.4 shows for what length of journey, on what type of road and in what sort of road conditions respondents were driving on the last occasion that they drove within a few hours of drinking alcohol.
5.29 Respondents were more likely to be making shorter journeys, with 22% having made a journey of less than a mile and 51% a journey of between one and 5 miles. 16% made a journey of between 5 and 10 miles and 9% a journey of more than 10 miles. Just over three-quarters of those who drove when they thought they might have been over the limit were making a journey of 5 miles or less.
Figure 5.4 Journey length and road conditions on the last occasion when driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol
Base: All who had driven after drinking alcohol in the past twelve months (254)
5.30 Drivers living in rural areas were somewhat more likely to make journeys of 6 miles or more (32%) than those living in urban areas (23%). This is likely to reflect the fact that drivers in rural areas in general drive greater distances than those in urban areas.
5.31 Respondents were more likely to be travelling on a road in a rural town or village (40%) or in a city or other urban area (39%) than on a motorway or dual carriageway (16%) or rural road 10 (14%). This fits with the fact that respondents were more likely to make shorter journeys, and suggests that they were most often travelling from one location to another in the same town, village or city. Those living in rural areas were more likely to have driven in a rural town or village (65%) compared with those living in urban areas (24%), while those living in urban areas were more likely to have driven in a city or urban area (53% compared with 18% of those who lived in a rural area). There were no real differences by area of residence for driving on a motorway or dual carriageway or on rural roads.
5.32 When respondents were asked about road conditions, they were far more likely to have been travelling on quiet than busy roads (53% compared with 13%) and were mainly travelling on lit rather than on unlit roads (40% compared with 12%). Females were more likely to say that they had driven on mainly quiet roads (60%) than males (48%). Those in rural areas were also more likely to say they had driven on mainly quiet roads (64%) than those in urban areas (46%). Drivers from rural areas were also more likely to have driven on unlit roads (24%) compared with drivers from urban areas (4%). The converse was also true with 53% of drivers from urban areas saying they had driven mainly in lit areas compared with 19% of drivers from rural areas.
5.33 Those describing the last occasion when they drove when they thought they might be over the limit showed the same pattern for both road type and road condition.
5.34 Discussion in the qualitative research confirmed some of the typical driving after drinking occasions described in the survey. Drink-driving occurred when they knew the roads, estimated a short journey time and felt it was safe enough to risk taking their car home. Participants identified local events and frequently-made journeys as situations where they might drive after drinking.
"When I've got the car with me and I'm not driving very far. When it's somewhere local. Somewhere local that I've got maybe just a really quick journey and I feel that I'm fine. I've only had, och I'll be fine with what I've had, and it's just a short journey." ( OTL female, 35-49, B Rural)
"I think if you're driving on motorways and rural roads…Personally for me I don't think I'd get caught driving just nipping out to the shops but I think I would get caught if I was making a journey. It's that, well it's only a ten minute drive compared to the half an hour." (Female, 25-34, B/C1, Urban)
"Sometimes I think it's alright to have a third and a fourth just because it's only up the road and I think it's just a short journey… Somebody gets a round in and then you just get involved and the next thing you know you've had a few too many." (Male, 17-20, C1/C2, Urban)
5.35 Survey respondents reported they were equally likely to be driving alone (46%) or with one passenger (46%) on the last occasion that they had driven within a few hours of having something alcoholic to drink, but far fewer had more than one passenger (7%). A similar pattern was shown by those who had driven when they thought they were over the limit, though they were slightly more likely to be driving alone and slightly less likely to be driving with more than one passenger. For survey respondents, the likelihood of driving alone was greater in younger age groups (those aged 17 to 29), while older drivers were more likely to have one passenger.
5.36 In the qualitative research, young people (aged 17 to 20) rarely spoke of driving when alone, as driving was often seen as a group activity and part of the social experience, particularly when going to social events such as the pub/football matches and consuming alcohol. However, older participants did support the survey findings, as many indicated that they would avoid drinking alcohol and driving with others in the car because of their responsibilities to their passengers, such as their spouses and younger family members.
Why did it happen?
5.37 Of those in the survey who had driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol in the past year, 73% had expected to drive on the last occasion they had done so. There was a tendency for lighter drinkers to say they had not expected to drive in comparison with heavier drinkers. A lower proportion of those who suspected they might have been over the limit said that they had expected to drive, but this was still the case for over half of those drivers.
5.38 Respondents were also asked to indicate, from a list of possible reasons, why they had chosen to drive on the last occasion they had either driven within a few hours of consuming an alcoholic drink or when they thought they might have been over the limit. They could choose as many reasons as they felt applied.
Figure 5.5 Reasons for choosing to drive on the last occasion when driven within a few hours of drinking alcohol
Base: All who had driven after drinking alcohol in the past twelve months (254)
5.39 As Figure 5.5 shows, the most common reason given for having driven after drinking alcohol was that the respondent thought that they were under the legal drink drive limit (57%). This leaves 43% who did not say that. Only 5% of respondents in the survey said they had driven when they suspected they were over the limit on any occasion in the last 12 months. It is possible that this discrepancy is due to the fact that, as we have speculated elsewhere, at least some respondents did not admit to occasions when they considered they were borderline over-the-limit - we found in the qualitative research that they did not believe this was 'real' drink-driving. Alternatively, and perhaps more likely for the majority, respondents may simply have chosen to give other reasons in answer to this question and no inference that they thought they were over the limit was intended.
5.40 Importantly, many participants in the qualitative research stated that they drove after drinking alcohol because they are legally 'allowed to' do so.
"I drink and drive because I'm allowed to. If I wasn't allowed to drink [when driving], I would not do it." (Female, 25-35, B/C1, Urban)
"If the law was different then I wouldn't do it. If it was no alcohol whatsoever then I just wouldn't take it, but I think it's because, you know, you're allowed to take a certain amount." ( OTL female, 35-49, B, Rural)
5.41 Other common survey responses were that respondents did not think their driving ability was affected (35%), that they had waited a few hours before driving (19%), that they had their car with them and had to take it home (18%), that they had not expected to have an alcoholic drink (13%) and that no other means of transport was available (12%). Fewer respondents said that alternative transport was too inconvenient (9%), that other people were relying on them to drive (6%), that alternative transport was too expensive (2%) or that they did not really think about it (2%).
5.42 As before, the small base size of those who drove when they thought they might have been over the limit in the last 12 months (n=53) prevents us from reporting in detail the reasons given by this group for choosing to drive. However, nearly half mentioned the fact that they had waited a few hours before driving, around one quarter said that they did not think their driving ability had been affected or that they knew the roads would be quiet. Nearly one fifth mentioned that they did not think they were taking a risk, that they had their car with them and had to take it home or that they had not expected to have an alcoholic drink.
5.43 Drivers in the qualitative research spoke of some of their reasons for driving after drinking. These included concerns for the security of their car, lack of convenient alternative transportation and being encouraged by their friends. Each of these is discussed in turn in the following sections.
Security and convenience
5.44 Participants often justified taking their car home after drinking alcohol out of convenience and for security reasons. When drivers took their cars, they did not intend to have more than the 'safe limit', which was usually self-defined. On the occasions where a driver may have consumed more than their considered 'safe limit', many rationalised that it was easier to drive home rather than leave the car. Leaving the car in a pub car park was considered to be potentially unsafe (i.e. the car could be stolen, damaged or broken into) and inconvenient if the car was required the next morning.
"It's a security thing as well, if you're parked in a pub car park you think there's no way I'm leaving my car here overnight. Alright, I've had 3 pints, just chance it down the road and just get it in my driveway where I know where it is and it's safe. So you do push it that way a wee bit." (Male, 35-49, B/C1, Urban)
Other forms of transport
5.45 Issues related to other forms of transport, including being unavailable, inconvenient and expensive, were mentioned in the survey, though not as the most important reasons for driving after drinking. Such reasons connected to alternative transport modes were given by many in the qualitative research as a justification for taking the car to social occasions, though the availability of alternative transport was seen as a reason not to drink and drive in cities.
"Most of us live in Edinburgh I think and it's just so easy to get a taxi or a bus, there isn't really a reason where you would feel that you have to drive." (Female, 25-34, B/C1, Urban)
Encouragement from friends
5.46 Younger drivers recognised that friends could encourage drivers to have an extra drink when they felt they had already reached their safe limit.
"That's like you set the limit for 2 pints and you still feel alright and it's early you think I'll just have another one… Just depends what you're doing and who you're with and how you're feeling I suppose… You can get egged-on, can't you? They're always like that, just have another one and it's things like that." (Male, 17-20, C1/C2, Urban)
5.47 In addition, there was some sense of peer acceptability among the younger people regarding drinking and driving. It was argued that when young drivers' friends are drinking, the social stigma of drink-driving diminishes; it becomes acceptable for both passenger and driver to drink.
"You just think oh I'll just drive and then because your pals are there and they're a wee bit drunk they don't seem to bother and you end up just driving." (Male, 17-20, B/C1, Rural)
5.48 They might also be encouraged to provide lifts to their friends even when they have consumed alcohol.
"You might get forced into it like your mate phones you up in the pub and you've already had 2 or 3 pints and he's like, 'oh pick me up, I bide in Letham, its going to be all night before I get home, the next bus is at half eight and its about quarter to eight'. So then you're just like that, oh might as well." (Male, 17-20, B/C1, Rural)
Reasons for drinking and driving in rural areas
5.49 Drivers living in rural areas gave more reasons on average than those living in urban areas (2.1 compared with 1.5) for driving after drinking in the past 12 months. This is reflected in those who lived in rural areas being more likely than other drivers to say that they thought they were under the legal drink-drive limit (66% compared with 52%), that they had waited a few hours before driving (25% compared with 15%), that they had their car with them and had to take it home (25% compared with 14%) and that no other means of transport was available (19% compared with 8%).
5.50 In the qualitative research both urban and rural groups shared the perception that it would be relatively safe to drink and drive in rural areas following drinking, due to the quiet roads and lack of police presence. Although it was perceived that 'everyone does it', there was some doubt as to whether it was socially acceptable to drink and drive in these areas or not.
"I think because you see other people doing it and it kind of seems to be an acceptable thing… Most people don't really frown upon having a couple of drinks and driving home…" ( OTL female 35-49, B, Rural)
"My mother stays up in the Western Isles, up in Stornoway and they all drink drive and it's socially acceptable. It's not that it's even socially acceptable but you know you're at the end of the planet at these places and you think it's only 2 miles and you jump in the car and go and it kind of happens in those places." (Male, 35-49, B/C1, Urban)
5.51 Many drivers said they would not consider using public transport when travelling locally and drinking within pre-conceived safe limits. This was due to a perceived lack of reliable alternatives, travel times and additional expense. It was particularly considered an issue for those in rural areas and the suburbs rather than cities, where public transport links were both better established and more frequent.
"I can't speak from experience in the town, in the city, but I think people don't have to rely on transport as much in the city as they do in little villages. And I know a lot of people… that drink and drive that live in the village." ( OTL female, B, 35-49, Rural)
"Since moving to this country my attitude to drinking and driving was…I can't believe anyone could be bothered because of all the public transportation. You can always jump on a bus or take a taxi, the train whatever, so my thoughts on that is it's just stupid. When I moved out here… the buses once you're out of Glasgow stop dead early… So I think that's why people just kind of, ah screw it, I'm out of the city I can get home from this point to this point." (Disqualified female, B, 35-49, Rural)
"The last bus is something like six o'clock or seven o'clock and that's it. So its quite crap in that respect and taxis are just extortionate, going out to wee villages." ( OTL female 35-49, B, Rural)
Key Points
The reasons why people drink and drive and the circumstances when they do it were explored in both the survey and the qualitative research (focus groups and depth interviews)
Situations:
- Most people who reported driving after drinking were driving home from someone's house or a pub, club or restaurant.
- Situations in which people tended to drink and drive at or over the limit were often circumstantial, as a by-product of other activities.
- Driving after drinking with a meal was said to be relatively common, as the effects of alcohol taken in combination with food were thought to be reduced.
- The last time which survey participants reported driving after drinking was more often in the evening at the weekend. In contrast, focus group participants said they did so on casual nights out, more often on weekdays.
- Few drivers in the survey said they drove the morning after drinking, although focus group members did recognise this happens. This was not always thought of as drink-driving, but it was acknowledged to be a risk and there was confusion about how long the affects of alcohol lasted.
Where?
- Most people who reported driving after drinking generally drove short distances in cities, towns or villages on mainly quiet roads in lit-up areas. Drivers in rural areas tended to drive longer distances and drive more on quiet, unlit roads.
Reasons
- In the survey, drivers who have driven after drinking alcohol said they did so because they thought they were under the legal limit and they did not think their driving ability was affected. Focus group participants also identified the law allowing driving after some alcohol consumption as a reason for drinking and driving.
- Other reasons for drinking and driving given in the qualitative research included: to ensure their cars' security, a lack of viable alternative transport and, for younger drivers, because of peer pressure.
- In rural areas drivers more often thought they were under the legal limit when they drove. Driving after drinking was very closely linked to a lack of alternative transport and the need for a car the next day. It was commonly thought to be less risky to drive in rural areas, although opinion was divided on whether it is more socially acceptable or not in those areas.
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