PARC your car if you intend to drink!

Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Care on our roads

Drink Driving Limits Survey undertaken by PARC
Data processed and analysed by ESPRI DMC Ltd
Findings collated by Mary Heseltine, Director, ESPRI DMC Ltd

The results are based on a random sample of 3262 people. Members of the PARC group carried out the fieldwork.

The data have been weighted to current CSO guidelines based on the Age and the Gender of each respondent, where it had been recorded, to correct a gender bias in the survey respondent base.

The weighted sample comprises 3240 adults aged 15+

A paper questionnaire presented the following Questions

"Which of these statements do you agree with"
The drink drive limit should be reduced to 50mg/100ml
The drink drive limit should be reduced to 20mg/100ml
There should be a two-tier limit. (Zero limit for learner drivers and 50mg/100ml for others)
The drink drive limit should be effectively zero (taking into account that alcohol is present in mouthwash and some medications)

"Do you drive and have access to a car?"
Yes
No

"Do you drink?"
Yes
No

Age (in pre-determined age groups) and Gender were also recorded. The level of non-response overall was low.

Findings
Almost the entire population (87%) favours a reduction in the current limit of 80mg/100 ml. Indeed, 57% of those interviewed voiced a preference for the "Effective Zero" approach.

There were however contrasting differences within the interview population which can be seen to divide (by means of cluster analysis) into three broad groupings.

The first group favours the "Effective zero" approach. It is a strong group comprising 1306 out of 3240. The members of this group are all women, they drive, they are more likely to take a drink (74% of the group) and to be aged between 25 and 49.
"62% of women aged 35-49 are particularly in favour of the Effective zero approach

A second group emerges - 1547 out of 3240. This group is entirely male. A typical member of this group is a driver who takes a drink - in the same proportions as the female group. This group favours a reduction in the blood-alcohol limit level to 20mg or 50mg. There is a statistically strong representation of 17-24 yr olds in this group
This group is less "keen" on the effective zero approach - 45% of Male 17-24s and to 52% of all males.

A third smaller group - 387 - are non-drivers (100%), are less likely to take a drink and are more likely to be either under 24 or over 65.
Predominantly female - 84% of the group, this group favours the two-tier limit suggested - which suggests 0mg for learner drivers and 50mg for others.

Age would appear to be the most important factor overall. If we split the age categories to show under 24 v. over

We can see that the younger age group are still accepting of the effective zero approach, but to a lesser extent. If asked to choose from the other options they would prefer to see the limit reduced to 20mg/100ml and would also be more accepting of a 2-tier limit than the general population.

To summarise, age and gender in particular predetermine these results, if you are female and older, or a non-drinker, you will take the "high ground"; if you are male and drive + drink you will take the "middle ground" - accepting that there needs to be change; if you are young 24 or younger - your picture is a little less clear cut but 45% of this group do support the "effective zero" approach.

A note on the "Leave as is" opinion - 100% were drinkers and almost all (98%) also take a drink.

Note on significant difference indicators:

A figure shown in Green indicates statistical significance when compared with the blue/Ref column - to the 99% level.