Star comment: Drink and driving do not mix

Driver habits change over time and though drink-driving was once considered socially acceptable, it no longer is. We have undergone a transformative time during which people have learned understood the dangers of driving and driving.

taking the week after having a tipple.

It is not the only habit that has changed. Drivers used to hit the road without wearing seat belts and, for a while, few would bat an eyelid. Similarly, it was once acceptable for children in back seats to sit without a restraint. Through many years, people have seen the statistics and changed habits.

By the same token, motorists are presently undergoing another sea change in attitudes. Until quite recently, it was deemed to be okay by some to use mobile phones while driving. And yet the number of accidents, fatal, serious and minor, proves that it is not. And, gradually, the number of people using mobile devices on our roads is falling.

That makes it all the more remarkable that the number of motorists falling foul of the breathalyser is rising. The practice has long been viewed with disdain by other motorists. Successive Governments have launched road safety campaigns encouraging people to take away the keys of those who are tempted.

The police launch periodic crackdowns, particularly at Christmas, to find those who take a chance. And such campaigns are generally productive.

Worryingly, almost half of the drivers involved in serious collisions after taking drink or drugs are aged under-30 – and four fifths of those are men. And so while the older generations seem to have taken the message and modified their behaviour, a new generation imagine themselves to be above the law.

As we enjoy the rest of our inclement summer, there are plenty of festivals, parties, BBQs and other social events at which the at-risk groups will be present. Police have a hard job of catching all of those who offend. They do not have the resources to send out patrols late at night, when pubs are closing, and so rely on the community to understand the message.

We can all play our part by dissuading those who think drink driving is acceptable. A diplomatic word – or, on occasion, an assertive one – can ward off trouble. The message is simple: drink and drug driving are not acceptable.