A new survey published by a road safety charity has revealed that 74% of drivers in the UK want a lower drink drive limit.

The UK-wide survey of 1,000 drivers conducted by Surveygoo and published by Brake and Direct Line noted 31% of the drivers said that the UK should get in line with Scotland and most of the EU by lowering the limit to 50mg of alcohol for each 100ml of blood.

More than 43% of the drivers said as in various EU countries UK should introduce a limit of 20mg/100ml, including road safety leaders Sweden; while only 26% said the limit should remain at the existing level of 80mg/100ml.

"If you’re driving, it’s not that great a hardship just to stick to soft drinks for the evening."

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: "It is often said that the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but there is no room for complacency, not least on drink driving, which remains one of the biggest killers.

"The UK has now slipped off the top of the European road safety rankings, and without critical progress, including the introduction of a zero-tolerance drink drive limit, we will be left further behind."

Brake urges Westminster politicians of all parties to make a zero-tolerance 20mg/100ml drink drive limit a key manifesto commitment for general election to be held in 2015.

The survey also found that 95% drivers agreed repeat offenders should face higher penalties and 89% said they should have ‘alcohol interlocks’ fitted to their vehicles to stop them starting the engine without passing a breath test.

In order to help cut reoffending, the road safety charity is calling for longer sentences up to two years.

Direct Line motor director Rob Miles said: "Many people don’t really know what the legal limit actually means in terms of how much you can drink.

"Our advice is not even to take the risk. If you’re driving, it’s not that great a hardship just to stick to soft drinks for the evening."