One in four drivers believe they may have over the legal limit for alcohol when driving the morning after a night out, according to new research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Overall, 9% of motorists admit to consuming alcohol before driving in the past 12 months, with the figure higher among men (12%) than women (5%).

More than a quarter of those who consumed alcohol before driving in the last 12 months had two or more drinks before doing so.

June weekend appeal

The figures are being published ahead of the June bank-holiday weekend, as the RSA, an Garda Síochána and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety appeal to all road users not to drink and drive.

Provisional figures show that 14 people have been killed and 64 people seriously injured over June bank-holiday weekends since 2016.

The RSA’s chief executive, Sam Waide, said: “While our research shows that most drivers believe that drinking and driving is not normal social behaviour, I am concerned at the numbers who are getting behind the wheel the morning after with drink on board.”

'Danger zone'

The RSA describes the morning after as a “danger zone” for drink-driving, having previously carried out an analysis of garda files for fatal collisions.

This showed that 11% of fatal collisions, in which a driver had consumed alcohol, occurred between 7am and 11am.

The RSA says that motorists should generally allow at least one hour per standard drink for the alcohol to clear their system. A standard drink is a half-pint, a small glass of wine or a standard measure of spirits.