Cautious about drink-driving

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 25

Cautious about drink-driving

Although younger drivers are almost universally perceived as being the most irresponsible as far as drinking and driving is concerned, a British survey undertaken on behalf of the Automobile Association, indicates that younger people rate the gravity of drinking and driving with crimes such as robbery with violence.

This survey of 1000 young people between the ages of 17 and 24 throughout Britain found that the majority appreciate the risks involved in being in an accident after drinking and do not

believe the hazards are worth it. More than 70 per cent of those surveyed claimed to cut down or take soft drinks if driving, while two-thirds said they had never driven after they had too much to drink. The subjects were highly critical of the effectiveness of Britain’s drink-drive legislation, 20 per cent suggesting that penalties were not severe enough. This survey also clearly showed that about 10 per cent of young people disregarded the seriousness of drinkingand driving.