Drink-driving is just one way to ruin Christmas. People are having work nights out and catching up with family and friends. However, some are risking, not only their lives but, the lives of others by having a drink and deciding to get behind the wheel of a car.

There were at least 6,070 road traffic accidents in the UK in 2016 that involved drink-driving. It is not only at the end of the night, it can be the next day. Waking up after a heavy night, people can still find themselves over the limit but, rather than wait they jump into the driving seat.

Across Cumbria the police have been warning the public about not only the dangers of drink-driving but driving while under the influence of drugs.

People who use drugs are being reminded by Cumbria Police on Facebook that they can be tested by officers on patrol. The force posted: “Officers can test for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside, and screen for other drugs, including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin at the police station.”

They have also told their social media followers: “A second drink can double your chance of a fatal collision, by drinking and driving you risk your life, those of your passengers and others on the road.”

In a recent study by law firm Slater and Gordon, it has been found that more than half of UK Motorist would support lowering the drink drive limit to zero, and 84 per cent want to see the limit reduced in order to cut the number of casualties on the country’s roads.

Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner Peter McCall said: “While nobody wants to be the one to spoil a party, I believe that the only truly safe way to drive is without alcohol. There are not many people who truly understand how much they can drink (and it is variable for us all) and be safe to drive, we know there is already confusion with the current limits. The easiest way to know that you are safe to drive in my opinion is to have no alcohol at all, we know that even a small amount of alcohol can impair driving to some degree so it is best to avoid it altogether. While it would be a matter for Parliament to change the law in order to make a change, I personally would support it.”

Teaching people to not drink and drive is the way forward says Danny Gibson, of Danny Gibson School of Motoring in Carlisle. “If you tell someone not to do something they will do it, its finding a way of coaching people to understand not to drink and drive,” he said. “We should have a zero tolerance. Like I tell my students, plan your nights out, have a designated driver and just don’t drink and drive.”

After the Scottish Government cut the legal blood alcohol limit for motorists, in December 2014, from 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood to 50. They argued by doing so would help save lives and make roads safer.

Living in Cumbria can be a double edged sword, as Ian Loftus, whose son was killed by a drink-driver, said: “It’s hard in the rural community, they rely on their cars, I’m all for zero tolerance but its farmers who I feel for. For years they have driven into the village on a Saturday for their one pint and drove home, zero tolerance would stop that. But the effect drink-driving had on my family, one pint is just not worth it.”

Jim Lewsey, professor of medical statistics at Glasgow University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, said: “The most plausible explanation for the surprising finding was the lower limit in Scotland was not backed up with sufficient police enforcement or media campaigning.”

Graeme Forrester, an experienced race and rally driver who is also a member of Wigton Motor Club said: “I am sure none of our members condone doing anything that would impair the ability to drive safely including taking drink or drugs. They take great pride in the quality of their driving.

“Recent figures do show the problem of drug-driving is now greater than drunk-driving and that needs to be tackled.”

Paul Reddy, head of road traffic defence at Slater and Gordon, said: “There is still a lot of confusion around the drink-drive limit in this country, but it is surprising and very concerning that the large majority still don’t know the guidelines. This may be one of the reasons why so many people support a total ban which would remove any room for doubt. What these results do definitely tell us is that more education is needed on this.”

Just one in 10 had reported a suspected drink driver to the police but many said they either would not want to incriminate them, it was none of their business, or they would not want to fall out.