James Moorhouse
Drinking and driving is never a good idea but new figures have revealed the horrifying amount one offender consumed before taking to the wheel.
DVLA data exclusively shared with This is Money has exposed how far over the legal limit some of the worst motorists from the last 10 years have been.
Although there have been conversations about making 'sensible' changes to the limit, it currently stands at 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood and 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Around 6,800 people die or are injured in drink-driving-related collisions on Britain's roads each year, which goes to show that it is still a significant issue, with Jamie Lee Komoroski sentenced to 25 years in a prison late last year after tragically killing a bride on her wedding day after drink driving.
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The data revealed that someone convicted of drink driving between 2015 and 2024 came this time last year when a 39-year-old male registered a reading of 513mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre).
Remarkably, that was nearly seven times over the legal limit and is the equivalent of a man in the UK of average weight (around 13 stone) drinking 22 pints of beer.
Kansas State University concluded that readings above 400mg/dL can 'depress respiration to the point where it's not sufficient to sustain life', while those above 450mg/dL are 'often associated with coma and death'.
The 39-year-old led the way with the frightening 513mg/dL, with the second and third worst offenders registering 471mg/dL and 460mg/dL respectively, which again is enough to put someone in a coma or even kill them.
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Graham Conway, from leading UK vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing, who obtained the figures via the Freedom of Information Act, said: "These numbers are simply incredible - in the worst way possible.
"Drinking any amount of alcohol before driving is strongly advised against, and for good reason. But to drink so much that your level is considered life-threatening, before then getting behind the wheel, is simply beyond comprehension."
Of course, there are many health reasons why you should avoid drinking alcohol but it's never a good idea to pick up your car keys after a few drinks in the pub, and sadly it seems as if numbers are only getting worse, with fatalities in 2022 the worst recorded in over 15 years.
Mr Conway added: "|Rather worryingly, the stats show that four of the top five highest readings were recorded within the past three years.
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"This indicates the well-established message that drink-driving is both dangerous and socially unacceptable has simply not landed with some people.
"We're not talking about the odd drink either - this is consuming well into double figures to reach the levels recorded."