Christmas time comes with plenty of warnings for drivers most of which warn them to take extra care on the roads in the winter. The other major warning is not to drink and drive over the festive season, unfortunately the sad truth is that many do take this risk, after work Christmas drinks or an unexpected Christmas drink with friends often puts people in the situation where people are going to drink and drive.

New stats released earlier this week by Diamond Car Insurance has now revealed that men are more likely to drink and drive over Christmas, after the company who specialise in insuring woman surveyed 2800 motorists they found that 1 in 10 men would be more than happy to drive home after consuming three to four units of alcohol. This is compared to 1 in 100 women who would be willing to drive home after well exciding the drink driving limit. Overall, 62 per cent of men said they would be happy to drive after drinking, while only 34 per cent of women said they would be.

This sad fact is all too common over Christmas period and the fact that they would be jeopardising their car insurance policy is a non issue when getting into the car exciding the drink drive limit means that you are not only putting your safety at risk but the safety of everyone around you.

Sian Lewis, Diamond's managing director, said: "The fact that such a large percentage are happy to drive after having a drink is a real worry as any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely." The long reaching effects of being caught drink driving are huge as well, an automatic ban and fine or possible prison sentence, after which if you want to try driving after being banned surveys have revealed that on average car insurance premiums rise by 82 percent and that’s only if you are lucky enough to be accepted for car insurance.

Inspector Russell Clark of West Yorkshire Police reinforces the punishments for “anyone who's stopped for drink driving will, as a very minimum, lose their licence for six months. If someone was to cause a death as a result of drunk driving, they're looking at a possible 14-year prison sentence. Handheld breathalysers are no defence if anyone should go to court. There is no safe level for drinking and driving, aside from not drinking at all."

It’s not difficult to be caught out over the Christmas period but there are a few things that you should always remember. Firstly drink driving is never an option, there is always another way to get home, if there is the possibility of drinking try and make plans to get home before hand, and remember you don’t always have to drink, there will be plenty other opportunities to have a drink in the future.

The simple fact is that this is the party season and many will be put in the situation when they will have to decide if they will drink and drive. The simple fact is don’t drink and drive, there is no other way around it.