Drivers warned over drinking after 10pm

New figures suggest some motorists may be unwittingly behind the wheel still feeling the effects of a night out...

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MORE than a fifth (21%) of motorists have drunk alcohol after 10pm when needing to drive before 9am the following morning, a new survey suggests.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, which commissioned the poll, warned that drinking alcohol the night before getting behind the wheel can pose a “serious threat” because a “groggy head” means slower reaction times.

The survey of 1,072 UK motorists also indicated that 38% of people who have consumed several alcoholic drinks ahead of driving before 9am stopped after 9pm.

Charity Drinkaware states that alcohol is removed from the body at a rate of one unit per hour, although this varies depending on a person's weight, liver health and metabolism speed.

Around three large glasses of wine or three pints of high-strength beer or cider is the equivalent of nine units.

Someone consuming those drinks up to 10pm could still have alcohol in their body at 7am or later, IAM RoadSmart warned.