YOUNG motorists are flouting the law and risking lives by driving under the influence of drink and drugs, a worrying new report revealed today.

Fresh research by road safety charity Brake revealed that one in 12 young drivers in the West Midlands admits to driving after drinking alcohol and six in ten have it done it more than once.

Some young people, aged between 17 and 25, have admitted to taking a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Latest findings from the Department of Transport show at least four people each week were killed on roads in the West Midlands in 2008.

A total of 22,028 people were killed or hurt on roads in the region last year.

At least one in six deaths in the UK are caused by drivers over the legal alcohol limit and similar numbers are caused by drug drivers.

Brake’s research also found that a quarter of passengers who travel with young drivers, knew they had been drinking or taking drugs.

Mary Williams, OBE, Brake’s chief executive, said: “The simple fact is that you need your wits about you when you are driving. But each week on our roads, eight people are killed by impaired drivers over the drink-drive limit and it is estimated that almost as many may be killed by drivers on illegal drugs.

“This Road Safety Week, Brake is calling on drivers and Government to make personal and political commitments to stop the devastation caused by drink and drug drivers.

“Excuses for taking such deliberate risks – playing Russian roulette with lives – just won’t cut it. Brake’s message? Not a drop of alcohol; not a drag of a joint or any other drug if you’re driving.”