The Department for Transport has published provisional estimates
[1] on personal injury drink drive crashes in Great Britain for
2016 [2]. These show a statistically significant rise in all key
crash data, relating to at least one driver being over the
alcohol limit: the number of fatalities; the number of injuries;
and the total number of crashes [3].
Commenting on the statistics, Joshua Harris, Director of
Campaigns at road safety charity Brake,
said: “These figures must be a wake-up call to the
Government, forcing them to act now to eradicate the menace of
drink-driving from our roads. The number of drink-drive related
deaths, injuries and total crashes in 2016 have all increased
from levels which were already unacceptable. This deeply
concerning trend highlights the urgent need for the Government to
enforce an effective zero tolerance drink-driving level across
the UK [4].
“Research has shown even very small amounts of alcohol
dramatically affect safe driving - drivers with just 20-50mg
alcohol per 100ml of blood are at least three times more likely
to die in a crash than those with no alcohol at all [5].
“The current drink-driving limit gives a false impression that it
is safe to drink and drive. Only by changing this perception can
we eradicate the needless loss of life caused by alcohol on our
roads. Brake is calling for the Government to implement an
effective zero tolerance drink-drive limit of 20mg per 100ml of
blood, making clear to drivers that not a drop of alcohol is
safe.”
[ENDS]
Notes to editors
[1] Provisional estimates releases 8 February 2018. Updated 2016
final estimates for casualties in reported drink-drive accidents
are scheduled to be published in August 2018.
[2] Reported road casualties
in Great Britain: Estimates for accidents involving illegal
alcohol levels: 2016 (provisional), Department for
Transport
[3] “Provisional estimates for 2016 show that between 200 and 280
people were killed in accidents in Great Britain where at least
one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with a central
estimate of 240 deaths… An estimated 9,050 people were killed or
injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit,
an increase of 7% on 2015… The total number of collisions and
accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit
rose by 6 per cent to 6,080 in 2016”
[4] ‘Driving for zero’
[5] WHO Global status report
on road safety, 2015
