100 drivers a day caught drink driving
Fri, 12 Sept 2025
Shock new figures from a Freedom of Information request have revealed 100 drivers a day are receiving endorsements on their licence for drink-driving.
Around 108,000 drink-drive endorsements have been recorded on driving licences over the past three years, according to research from IAM RoadSmart.
Young professionals aged 25-39 are the worst offenders, accounting for 48,000 of endorsements in the past three years. They are closely followed by middle-aged drivers between 40 and 65.
Younger drivers are much less likely to receive a drink-drive penalty, with 15,000 drivers aged 17-24 getting points. There are even fewer older drivers reported in the statistics, with 3000 drivers aged over 64 being rapped.
The oldest was aged 91.
In light of the shock stats, IAM RoadSmart is now keen to highlight the impact of drink-driving on people’s finances and careers, on top of the safety risks.
For starters, those caught will automatically lose their licence and any endorsement (see table below) will then remain on their licence for 11 years.
They also risk a prison sentence and unlimited fine.
As for financial costs, they could total £80,000, once the loss of 15 months’ salary, legal fees of nearly £14k, fines of £5k, public transport costs and a whopping £13,700 in increased car insurance premiums are added up.
The potential costs of drink-driving are up 15% on previous research conducted five years ago by IAM RoadSmart.
"Drink-driving is a dangerously reckless act that puts other people’s lives at risk," says IAM RoadSmart’s Nicholas Lyes. "But for some, the consequences might only dawn on them when they realise the wider cost.
"We hope that by calculating the potential cost to the individual, would-be law breakers will at the very least consider the impact on themselves and think twice before getting behind the wheel after a drink."
Drink-drive endorsement codes
- DR10: Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit
- DR20: Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink
- DR40: In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit
- DR50: In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink
