A SHOCK survey has revealed that half the young drivers in Lancashire believe it is acceptable to drink and drive.

The news came as police figures were released showing that Lancashire has the fourth highest casualty rate in the country for accidents caused by drivers over the legal limit.

The number of those who required medical treatment after being involved in alcohol-related smashes was even higher than in London.

The Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign, aimed at cutting the number of deaths amongst young drivers, has called for a zero-alcohol limit to be introduced in drivers under the age of 25.

The survey, commissioned by the Lancashire Part-nership for Road Safety (LPRS), found that 50 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds thought it was all right to get behind the wheel if they had been drinking.

This dropped to 34 per cent in older drivers.

Kat Whitemoss, champion for young drivers at LPRS, said: "There does seem to be a feeling of invincibility with young people at the moment.

"They think it will never happen to them, they are above the law and can do anything. But as casualty statistics show this is very far from the truth."

Campaign groups are concerned that the don't drink and drive' message is not getting through to the younger generation of drivers.

Chris Frost, from road safety charity Brake, said: "It is vital that basic safety messages such as drinking no alcohol before driving are promoted to all ages, but especially young drivers considering these shocking statistics.

"Brake is calling on the government to make road safety education a compulsory part of the national curriculum."

He added: "It is devastating that so many young people are oblivious to the fact that drink driving kills.

"I'm sure that if young people in Lancashire were aware of the affect just one drink can have on driver's perceptions and ultimately on people's lives, less would deem it acceptable to drive after a drink."

The LPRS survey found that 72 per cent of older drivers supported this - but only 36 per cent of younger ones agreed.

Mrs Whitemoss said: "What is deeply worrying is the carefree attitude of inexperienced young drivers.

"Add alcohol, and it is a disaster waiting to happen.

"Could you live with yourself if you paralysed your best mate or killed a child? Is it really worth the gamble?"

Police force figures show that last year in Lancashire 363 people were hurt in smashes where at least one driver was over the limit.

In comparison, the Metropolitan Police dealt with only 331 injuries.

Dr Sanjoy Bhattacharyya, consultant and clinical operations director in emergency medicine in East Lancashire, said: "Every single injury and death caused by drink driving is totally preventable. If you are old enough to drive, then you will know about the dangers of drink driving.

"The consequences can be so incredibly severe."

He added: "Impairment begins long before a person reaches the blood alcohol concentration level necessary to be guilty of drink driving.

"Unfortunately, in spite of great progress, alcohol-impaired driving remains a problem that tragically effects many victims. It's easy to forget that statistics represent real people and real lives. "

Police are now stepping up road side checks in the run up to Christmas.

Lancashire Constabulary's road policing manager, Chief Inspector Jon Donnelly, said: "The current position is not acceptable and there are far too many injuries and fatalities through drink driving on Lancashire's roads.

"As a result, we are robustly targeting this offence and over the past couple of months the number of breath tests we have carried out has increased, but we would also ask members of the public to be vigilant in reporting this kind of offence."

The Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign is calling for a series of legislative and educational aims in a bid to reduce the number of serious accidents involving drivers under the age of 25.

These include raising the age of driving to 18; introducing a graduated licensing system; putting limits on passenger carrying and promoting road safety education programmes in schools.

  • If you are worried about someone who habitually drinks and drives, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.