Drink-drive deaths and serious injuries at highest level since 2011

Published 26 August 2021

The number of people killed or seriously injured by drink-drivers has reached its highest level in eight years, according to the latest public figures from the Department for Transport (DfT).

In 2019, 2,050 people were killed or seriously injured where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit, an increase of eight per cent in 2018 and the highest level since 2011.

The DfT's estimates for 2019 show between 210 and 250 people were killed in accidents in the UK, with a central estimate of 230 deaths - a figure that is broadly in line with the past few years. Industry commentators have labelled the numbers "a chilling reminder” that the number of people being killed by drunk drivers has remained broadly the same for over a decade.

RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While there will be much interest in the 2020 casualty figures when they come out to understand the impact of the Covid lockdowns on drink-driving, these figures still represent a rather chilling reminder that in the region of 250 people are killed by drink-drivers on Great Britain’s roads every year, a figure that’s barely fallen since 2010."

Data from the DfT show the number of people killed or seriously injured in drink-drive accidents increased while numbers for all casualties fell. This is because the number of serious casualties in accidents in which at least one driver or rider failed a breath test rose, while the number of slightly injured in these accidents fell compared to 2018.

Police -breathalyser

It is estimated that 7800 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit in 2019. This represents a fall of 10 per cent from 8680 in 2018 and is the lowest figure recorded by the DfT. The total number of accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit also decreased by nine per cent to 5350 in 2019, the lowest number of drink-drive accidents recorded.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is calling on the Government to crackdown on drink-drivers by seizing the vehicles of repeat offenders and lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland. The charity also wants to see 'alcolocks' fitted to cars, which requires the driver to blow into a mouthpiece on the device before starting or continuing to operate the vehicle.

"A much smarter package of measures is needed from the Government including a lower drink-drive limit to reinforce good behaviour, fast-track of evidential roadside testing machines to release police resources and tailored approaches to help drivers with alcohol problems," said Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart.

The current limit in Scotland is 22 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. However, for the rest of the UK, the limit is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres. Drivers caught drink-driving face up to six months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a driving ban for at least one year.

Comments

Contax139 on 26 August 2021

The penalties for drink/drug driving also causing death by driving are now so lenient for some that they take the risk. A driving licence should be classed as a real privilege and a lot of stupid things some drivers do should result in a lifetime ban from driving or riding any powered vehicle, for others sentences and fines should be greatly increased with no exceptions for females and females with kids.

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NEIL SCARLETT on 26 August 2021

'alcolocks' fitted to cars, what a fantastic idea, something else to go wrong. As a part time getaway driver I would be against this idea. Anyway I'm surprised that all these hi tech cameras that festoon our roads don't catch more drink drivers.

Edited by NEIL SCARLETT on 26/08/2021 at 19:54

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Newcastle Boy on 26 August 2021

Do they not just catch mainly those straying over the limit? More effective measures may be needed.

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john Boxall on 26 August 2021

Given that about three times as many people are killed on the roads than are murdered I fail to understand why driving like an i**** isn't treated as seriously as gun or knife crime,

I suggest that if the local drink drivers and boy racers were dragged out of their vehicles by PC Ivor Twitchyfinger with his trusty Machine Gun they might get the message sharpish

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Dennis Leeds on 27 August 2021

There are now more drug takers caught driving than alcoholics and is a more serious problem because the offender does not think it impaires their driving like alcohol. In fact the number of drug drivers caught has doubled in the last year.

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Johnno431 on 27 August 2021

The law and the police have been asleep on the issue of drug driving so that now it’s commonplace. “recreational “ drug takers need to be targeted and, like drinkers, be given no latitude .
Drug driving will only be stopped if society turns against it as it has with drunk driving !
Personally speaking, if a loved one was killed in a road crash I wouldn’t care whether the driver was drunk or drugged - my loved one would be just as dead !!!

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4caster on 27 August 2021

Don't take any notice of the advert "6% Interest Savings Accounts" at the top of this page, nor the 7% Interest Savings Accounts at th bottom right. They have to be unsafe if they promise that sort of return.
Pay more attention to the return OF you capital, rather than the return ON your capital, or you will lose it all.
Peter Lorimer, the original Honest John, would never have allowed dodgy adverts onto his site.

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aethelwulf on 27 August 2021

Don't take any notice of the advert "6% Interest Savings Accounts" at the top of this page, nor the 7% Interest Savings Accounts at th bottom right. They have to be unsafe if they promise that sort of return. Pay more attention to the return OF you capital, rather than the return ON your capital, or you will lose it all. Peter Lorimer, the original Honest John, would never have allowed dodgy adverts onto his site.

I cannot see the advert, or any adverts. Must be my adblocker working correctly.

Still, fair warning to anyone tempted with interest rates a 0.5% don't expect anything. Put you money into the stock market for a better return. Choose your investment carefully and there are comparison tables to show how the have fared.

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terryw on 27 August 2021

People consume alcohol to put themselves into an "altered state of mind", generally more relaxed and amiable - but not always! Clearly, that impacts their driving ability and, in a few cases, might even improve it if they are usually over-cautious and dangerously timid. More often it will cause drivers to be over-confident and potentially take more risks, with some resulting accidents.

However, don't confuse this with glib statements such as the one from the RAC (who should know better) that "250 people are killed by drink-drivers in a year". That makes the assumption that every accident in which a person dies is totally the responsibility of a driver under the influence of alcohol, regardless of the degree of possible intoxication or the apparent circumstances of the collision and whether the driver over the limit appeared to have been directly and solely the cause of the crash.

If that were the case is would mean that if that road situation had been exactly reproduced but none of the drivers were over the limit the crash would not have happened. Sensibly, that can not be anywhere near the truth as accidents happen for a wide variety of different reasons many of which can't be avoided even if everyone is stone cold sober.

Punishments should fit the crime - there is a vast difference between a driver just over the limit whose behaviour had little or no effect on the accident and someone three times over who wantonly crashed his car into someone at high speed.

Also note the telling statistics that the number of such accidents and people injured dropped by nine or ten percent in 2019 to their lowest recorded level. No reason for complacency but let's keep some perspective and continue to look at the total picture of road behaviour and accident reduction, including the minor (but important) contribution of alcohol consumption to the overall problem.

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Falkirk Bairn on 29 August 2021

Drink drive limits reduced in Scotland in 2014 - made no difference as the dedicated drinkers just ignore any limits.

The only real effects were more country pubs closed along with golf club & bowling clubs.

Even a pint after a round/game became too risky for the law abiding drivers.

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