ROAD safety campaigners have issued a call for fleet decision-makers to crackdown on the hidden drink-drive culture of 'morning after' motoring.

While many employees know that they should not drink and drive, many fail to realise they may still be over the legal limit if they make an early start after drinking late into the night.

Now fleet decision-makers are being urged to address the issue as part of their occupational road risk policy.

The warning comes as a new report reveals that fleet drivers are putting themselves and other motorists at risk by ignoring the dangers.

Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the RAC are calling for action to combat 'morning after' motoring which they claim is as dangerous as 'same-day' drinking.

Drink, Drugs and Driving, part of the annual RAC Report on Motoring, says that while 92% of company drivers agree that driving after drinking over the limit on the same day was dangerous, only 73% agree it is dangerous to drive after drinking heavily the evening before.

An RAC spokesman said: 'Fleet drivers are a real concern when it comes to 'morning after' motoring, particularly those for whom heavy drinking is part and parcel of their lifestyle.

'They can still be over the legal limit for driving when they get behind the wheel the morning after a heavy drinking session.'

Charles Davis, RoSPA head of driver and fleet solutions, added: 'This research underlines what we have believed for some time.

'Fleet managers have to understand their responsibility to ensure that those driving for them are never over the limit when on the road. It is something that needs to be looked at as part of a company's management of occupational road risk policies.

'Many people still do not understand how easy it is to fail a breath test, especially the morning after a few drinks. People who test positive the next day often say they wish they had been given the knowledge to prevent them facing a ban.'

Davis added: 'Driving bans can have disastrous consequences for employees, who may well lose their jobs, but employers also face the costly business of replacing experienced staff.'

RoSPA offers one-day courses for employees to learn more about issues such as the strength of different types of alcoholic drink and how little it takes to be over the limit.

It is not only aimed at fleet drivers, as employees who use their car for commuting may not be able to get to work if they are banned.
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