Drink and drug driving among young adults is at shockingly high levels, according to a Brake report launched in Road Safety Week.

The charity is now pleading with new generation of drivers to have ‘Not a drop and not a drag'.

More than one-in-four young people (28%) admit to drink or drug driving, or both, or being a passenger with a young drink or drug driver, accoridng to the Brake report, which was produced in partnership with 3M and Alcosense.

The report, commissioned by the three agencies, also found that:

  • One-in-six young drivers admit to drink driving and one-in-15 young drivers admit to drug driving - and often combine it with drink driving.
  • Out of 2,621 young drivers aged 17-25 interviewed for the report in schools and colleges, one-in-six (18%) admit to driving after drinking alcohol and one-in-15 (7%) admit to driving on illegal drugs. Out of those who admit to drug driving, most (84%) say they drive on a cocktail of drink and drugs.
  • A quarter of young people are risking their neck as a passenger with a young drink or drug driver.
  • Young people underestimate how long alcohol and drugs stay in their system, so may drive on drink or drugs unknowingly. When asked questions about how long different alcoholic drinks (such as wine, beer, cider, spirits) or cannabis stays in your system, about half of young people underestimate the length of time.
  • If you admit to drink or drug driving you are also more likely to say you have crashed. You are also more likely to be male. A significant number of young men also believe they are better at handling drink and drugs and driving than women.

It's no surprise that the report finds a strong link between ‘smashed and crashed' drivers; drivers who admit to drink or drug driving and who also say they have crashed while at the wheel.

Four-in-ten young drivers who admit to driving on drink or drugs (39%) say they have also crashed, compared with one in ten young drivers who say they don't drink or take drugs and drive (10%).

The report also finds that three-quarters (73%) of young drivers who admit to driving smashed and having crashed are male.

A quarter of the young men (26%) surveyed believe that males are better than females at handling drink or drugs and believe they are therefore safer driving on drink or drugs.