Repeat drink drivers could soon have to blow into ‘alcolocks’ before every journey as investigation reveals the number of persistent offenders
Over 220,000 motorists in the UK have drink-driving endorsements on their licence with many soon potentially facing having to blow into a breathalyser each time they want to start their car’s engine.
Analysis of driving license data by the RAC revealed that 217,757 have a ‘DR10’ endorsement and another 2,881 have ‘DR20’ offences on their current motoring record – taking the total to 220,638.
DR10 convictions are issued to those caught over the legal alcohol limit while a DR20 relates to those found to be unfit and impaired at the wheel due to alcohol, regardless of whether they were over the limit or not.
The motoring group’s investigation comes just weeks after the Government announced plans to crackdown on drink driving as part of its overarching Road Safety Strategy.
The proposals include almost halving the existing drink-drive limit and mandating that all new motors can be fitted with in-car breathalysers – called ‘alcolocks’ – to tackle repeat offenders.
And the motoring group’s investigation exposed there are plenty of people who don’t learn their lesson when it comes to mixing alcohol and driving.
The RAC’s freedom of information request to the DVLA found that 2,553 individuals have accrued three or more DR10 or DR20 endorsements since 2014.
Over 220,000 motorists in the UK have drink-driving endorsements on their licence. And more than 2,500 of these are persistent offenders, an investigation by the RAC has revealed
While around just 0.5 per cent of the nation’s 42 million full licence holders have a drink-driving endorsement, the impact of being over the legal limit is having a profound impact on road casualties.
The latest DfT figures for 2023 show that around 260 people die in crashes on Britain’s roads each year in instances where a driver is over the alcohol limit, which is 7 per cent higher than a decade earlier.
It means that around one in six road deaths still involves drink driving.
And despite magistrates handing out hefty punishments – including up to three months’ imprisonment, a possible driving ban and fine up to £2,500 – the RAC says it is ‘painfully clear’ that licence disqualification alone is not preventing reoffending.
The RAC’s freedom of information request to the DVLA found that 2,553 individuals have accrued three or more DR10 or DR20 endorsements since 2014
The number of road deaths involving at least one drink driver has fallen between 2022 and 2023, but fatalities are still higher than they were a decade ago
DfT data suggests that one in six (16%) road deaths in 2023 involved drink driving
DVLA records revealed several ‘extreme cases’ of repeat drink drivers.
One motorist amassed 10 separate DR10 convictions, another had eight, and a further 13 drivers incurred six convictions for being over the limit.
In total, 2,171 drivers accrued three DR10 endorsements, alongside 25 motorists with three DR20 offences.
Over 26,819 licence holders had at least two of these offences between 2014 and 2025 with all endorsements of this type remaining on a driver’s record for 11 years.
Could ‘alcolocks’ be on the way?
The RAC says the investigation findings ‘demonstrate the challenge of preventing reoffending among a minority of persistent offenders’.
Rod Dennis, the motoring organisation’s road safety spokesman says the only solution is to install alcolocks to vehicles, which are fitted to the car’s ignition system to prevent the engine starting if the driver is over the legal limit.
Car brands, under EU rules, must provide the facility for alcolocks to be fitted in their latest vehicles, with manufacturers including Seat exploring the technology for years.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy also calls for all new models entering Britain’s roads to have the hardware to allow for these devices to be installed.
This is part of a wave of measures aimed to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65 per cent by 2035.
Alcolocks are used in Finland, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and many parts of the US to tackle the issue of repeat drink-driving offenders
Plans would include a mandatory court order for persistent offenders to have breathalysers wired into their vehicles.
The gadgets, alongside slashing the drink drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath – in-line with Scotland’s lower limits introduced in 2014 – Dennis says ‘could play a vital role in stopping persistent offenders putting lives at risk’.
He added: ‘Public support is already strong, with RAC data showing 82 per cent of drivers back the introduction of alcolocks to prevent drink-driving.
‘When one instance can kill, 10 occurrences on the same licence is a truly grim Groundhog Day that must be prevented. Surely as a society we can’t afford not to be using alcolocks.’
Seat is among the car manufacturers that has already showcased how alcolocks can be installed in new models
A spokesperson for the Lock Out Drink‑Driving Campaign launched in December, said the RAC’s investigation findings ‘should be a wake‑up call for road safety in Great Britain’.
They said: ‘To see more than 18,000 people convicted of multiple drink‑driving offences – some with as many as six convictions – is completely unacceptable. It is clear that current measures are failing to break the cycle of reoffending.
‘We welcome the Government’s interest in alcolocks in the new Road Safety Strategy, but this data shows decisive action is needed now. A mandatory alcolock programme for high‑risk and repeat offenders would prevent further avoidable tragedies on our roads.’
Alcohol interlocks are already widely used in EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US, with studies demonstrating reductions in reoffending of up to 70 per cent once the devices are fitted.
A recent Dutch study also found that drivers who had the devices installed remain less likely to reoffend even once they were removed.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told us: ‘For nearly 60 years our drink‑drive limit has remained unchanged while other countries have acted, and we are determined to change that.
‘Through our new Road Safety Strategy, we are consulting on lower limits and tougher measures to tackle repeat offending, including the potential use of alcohol interlocks.’
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy consultation closes on 31 March.
