Morning drivers under the influence

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 drinking 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.