Back to School Sparks Road Safety Fears

Monday, September 03, 2018

2 September 2018 – Monday is Back to School day across the country, but new analysis suggests 200,000 mothers could be driving their children to school with alcohol in their system.

 

Government figures obtained by AlcoSense Breathalysers show that 8% of women with dependent children exceeded nine units of alcohol on their heaviest drinking day in the past week.

 

With over 2.5 million mums driving to school by car, this means that 200,000 could still be the worse for wear on at least one day a week – potentially putting their children at risk.

 

The figure for fathers is even higher, with 10% exceeding 12 units on their heaviest drinking day - although fewer men do the school run.

 

Around 5,700 children are injured each year on the roads during the morning and evening school run period, with 700 killed or seriously hurt.  September is the worst month for child casualties.

 

“Professional couples unwinding with a bottle of wine after a stressful day may be most at risk when they leave the house early the next day,” comments Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of AlcoSense and Advisor to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS).

 

“Research shows that people earning over £40,000 consume more alcohol than those in lower salary brackets.

 

“Even with just one-eighth of the current English drink drive limit (one-fifth of the Scottish limit), you are 37% more likely to be involved in a fatal road accident than when sober". 

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