Drink and drugs: Highway Code rules 95 and 96

The short answer

Any alcohol affects your driving, so the safest choice is not to drink at all if you will drive. You must not drive over the legal limit, which is lower in Scotland, or under the influence of drugs or medicine. Alcohol can still affect you the next morning.

Source: The Highway Code, rules 95 and 96, GOV.UK

Test yourself · 2

Two questions on being fit to drive

Question 1 of 2

You drank alcohol last evening. What should you remember before driving this morning?
- A strong coffee makes you fit to drive
- Eating breakfast clears the alcohol
- A night's sleep always clears it
- You may still be unfit to drive Right
The right answer is D: You may still be unfit to drive

WhyAlcohol takes time to leave your body; drinking the evening before may leave you unfit to drive in the morning.

Source: The Highway Code, rule 95

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On a long drive, what minimum break is recommended after every two hours of driving?
- 15 minutes Right
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 30 minutes
The right answer is A: 15 minutes

WhyThe recommended minimum is a 15-minute break after every two hours of driving.

Source: The Highway Code, rule 91

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The rule in plain words

Alcohol (rule 95). Alcohol gives you false confidence, slows your reactions and makes it harder to judge speed, distance and risk. It does this even below the legal limit. It also takes time to leave your body: after drinking at lunchtime you may be unfit to drive that evening, and after an evening’s drinking you may be unfit the next morning. In the Highway Code’s words: “If you are going to drink, arrange another means of transport.”

Drugs and medicines (rule 96). You must not drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. The legal limits for illegal drugs are set very low, so even a small amount can put you over. With medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist, and do not drive if they say it may affect you.

Tiredness (rule 91). Do not start a journey tired. Avoid long drives between midnight and 6 am, and plan a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving. If you feel sleepy, stop somewhere safe, but not in an emergency area or on the hard shoulder.

The legal alcohol limits

Where	Breath	Blood
England and Wales	35 microgrammes per 100 ml	80 milligrammes per 100 ml
Scotland	22 microgrammes per 100 ml	50 milligrammes per 100 ml

Figures from rule 95 of The Highway Code, which applies to England, Scotland and Wales. There is no safe number of drinks: any amount of alcohol affects your driving.

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Other rules on being fit to drive

Rule	What it means for you
90	You must tell the DVLA about any health condition likely to affect your driving.
91	Rest before long journeys, avoid midnight to 6 am, take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours.
92	You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres in good daylight, wearing your glasses if you need them.
93 to 94	Slow down if dazzled by the sun. Do not wear tinted glasses at night if they restrict your view.
95	You must not drive over the alcohol limit. The best choice is not to drink at all.
96	You must not drive under the influence of drugs or medicine, or above the set drug limits.

What it means in practice

You had a few drinks last night

You may still be over the limit, or unfit to drive, the next morning. Feeling fine is not a reliable test, because alcohol gives you a false sense of confidence.

You have a new prescription

Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it can affect your driving. If they say it may, do not drive.

You feel sleepy on the motorway

Stop at the next service area for a break. Do not stop on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area to rest (rules 91 and 262).

Common mistakes

Counting drinks to stay just under the limit. Alcohol affects your driving below the limit too.
Driving the morning after. Alcohol takes time to leave your body.
Using Scotland’s limit as England’s, or the other way round. Scotland’s limit is lower.
Thinking prescribed medicine is always fine. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Pushing on when tired. Plan breaks before you set off.

Questions about drink, drugs and driving

What is the drink-drive limit in England?

In England and Wales: 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, or 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood. Source: rule 95.

What is the drink-drive limit in Scotland?

Lower: 22 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, or 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood. Source: rule 95.

Can I drive the morning after drinking?

Not if you are still affected. The Highway Code warns that you may be unfit to drive in the morning after drinking the previous evening. Source: rule 95.

How often should I take a break on a long drive?

A break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended. Source: rule 91.

Sources

(3)

The Highway Code: alcohol and drugs (rules 95 and 96), GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.
The Highway Code, rules 90 to 94 (fitness to drive, tiredness and vision), GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.
The Highway Code, rule 262 (breaks on motorways), GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Quotes from The Highway Code are Crown copyright. Sources and image credits.

Drink, drugs and tiredness: rules 91 to 96