40 pc women motorists admit to drink-driving

London, August 7 : Over 40 per cent of women motorists get behind the wheel of a car after boozing, according to a study.

Though 59 per cent men admitted to drinking and driving, the study suggested that women were closing the gap.

"Although men are still responsible for the majority of drink-driving, the increase in women is a big concern," the Mirror quoted Cathy Keeler of road safety charity Brake, which conducted the study, as saying.

"The gap is being closed by more women being convicted, which is very worrying," she added.

The newspaper report also suggests that women with drink-driving convictions rose from 7,750 in 1996 to 11,295 in 2006, but men convicted dropped seven per cent over the same period.

The Department for Transport said that it was considering plans to reduce the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

ANI