One in three drivers has driven the next day while over the limit

The Scottish Road Safety Campaign says motorists should think twice about driving if they have been drinking the night before.

The "don't take the risk, don't take the car" campaign was launched in Inverness as part of the annual festive clampdown on drink-driving.

Police said fewer drivers had been caught over the limit than last year.

Michael McDonnell, director of the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, said: "Many people believe the effects of alcohol will have worn off by morning and they will be fit to drive.

"People just don't realise that they may still be over the limit and may get caught and lose their licence."

Numbers down

The launch coincided with publication of figures from the first week of the annual police Festive Road Safety Campaign which showed fewer people had been caught drink-driving than in the same period last year.

A total of 188 motorists were found to be over the limit in the seven-day period from Monday 6 December, compared to 202 the year before.

But Scottish police forces voiced concern about the number of older drivers caught as the figure for the over-40 age group rose by 36%.

People just don't realise that they may still be over the limit and may get caught and lose their licence Michael McDonnell Scottish Road Safety Campaign

A study by insurance firm Direct Line showed that up to one in three drivers takes to the wheel the morning after while still over the legal limit.

It found about 15 million UK drivers underestimate the time it takes to sober up.

Research has found it can take 12 hours to be sober enough to drive after drinking four pints of continental lager or ale.

Emma Holyer, motor spokesperson at Direct Line, said: "Government guidelines were printed years ago and don't relate to higher strength lagers and large glasses of wine which are popular with most drinkers today.