Persistent drink-drive offenders spark calls for tougher laws
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More than 2,500 motorists have been caught drink-driving at least three times in the past 11 years, highlighting calls for tougher penalties and measures for convicted offenders.
More than 2,500 motorists have been caught drink-driving on at least three separate occasions since 2014, according to new analysis that exposes the scale of repeat offending on Britain’s roads.
The figures, uncovered by the RAC through a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), show 2,553 drivers have accrued three or more drink-drive endorsements in the past 11 years.
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Repeat offences remain a major problem
There are two types of drink-driving offences that stay on a driving licence for 11 years:
- DR10 – Driving or attempting to drive over the legal alcohol limit
- DR20 – Driving while unfit through drink
Some of the most serious cases recorded include:
- 2,171 drivers had three DR10 convictions
- 25 motorists had three DR20 endorsements
- 13 drivers were convicted six times for driving over the limit
- One driver had 10 separate DR10 convictions
- Another driver recorded eight convictions
In total, 220,638 motorists currently hold drink-driving endorsements on their licences: 217,757 DR10 cases and 2,881 DR20 cases. Over the same 11-year period, 26,819 licence holders were convicted more than once.
These figures, revealed by the DVLA, show just how persistent some offenders can be – and why strict enforcement matters.
“These figures make it painfully clear that licence disqualification alone does little to prevent some convicted drink-drivers reoffending,” said RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis. “When one instance can kill, 10 occurrences on the same licence is a truly grim ‘Groundhog Day’ that must be prevented.”
Calls for tougher measures for convicted offenders
Advocates say the data highlights the need for more stringent measures targeting drivers with multiple convictions. These include:
- Harsher penalties and longer licence suspensions.
- Mandatory monitoring or preventative measures for high-risk offenders.
- Consideration of technological interventions, such as in-car breathalysers, though only as a supporting measure.
The government’s new Road Safety Strategy, aiming to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, is currently consulting on measures to tackle persistent offenders. The consultation remains open until 31 March 2026.
Drink-driving remains a major contributor to road casualties. A 2024 report recorded 29,467 people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Britain’s roads. That’s around 80 every day.
The current legal alcohol limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg per 100ml of blood – the highest in Europe. The strategy is exploring whether to lower it.
Public support for cracking down on repeat offenders
Separate research by insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk shows strong public support for tougher rules on repeat drink-driving offenders.
Around 63% of respondents said drivers with previous drink-driving convictions should have a breathalyser device fitted to their vehicle. These devices, known as alcohol interlocks, are installed in a car’s ignition and require the driver to blow into them before starting the vehicle. If alcohol above the legal limit is detected, the car will not start. Some models also perform random breath checks while driving.
Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “Concern around repeat drink-driving is clear. Our survey shows strong public support for preventative measures, such as in-car breathalysers, to reduce the risk of reoffending.”
With more than 2,500 drivers caught multiple times over the past decade, experts say the focus must shift toward preventing reoffending through stricter penalties and monitoring for convicted drink-drivers, rather than relying on disqualification alone.
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