Breath tests at lowest level for 18 years – AA
- Just 285,380 tests conducted in 2019 compared to 481,561 in
2002
- More than 2.2 million speeding fines issued
- Fines for not wearing a seatbelt up 84.3%
Figures released by the Home Office today* show that the number
of roadside breath tests are at their lowest point since 2002.
Just 285,380 roadside breath tests were conducted last year
compared to 481,561 in 2002 and 322,769 in 2018.
Meanwhile, more than 2.2 million speeding fines were issued to
drivers last year – an increase of 7.8% compared to 2018. Police
also targeted careless driving and car occupants not wearing a
seatbelt which have significantly increased between 2018 and 2019
(up 33.5% and 84.3% respectively).
By contrast, the number of fines issued for using a handheld
mobile phone dropped by more than a quarter (26.5%).
Edmund King, AA president says; “It is worrying that drink
driving tests are at their lowest point in 18 years. Regrettably,
this only highlights the massive reduction in the number of
specialist traffic officers on our roads.
“While cameras are a useful tool in helping police our roads, we
cannot solely rely on them. A camera cannot stop a drink driver,
or pull over someone driving carelessly, so having more cops in
cars will help eliminate poor and dangerous driving.
“The lack of roads police has led to drivers thinking they can
get away with certain offences. More than two thirds (69%**) say
it is unlikely they would be caught driving carelessly where they
live, while two fifths (43%) say they could drive without
insurance and feel they wouldn’t be caught.
“The AA believes that we should set a target of zero road deaths
by the end of the decade, and can only reach that if a
significant effort is made to meet that ambition. As well as more
police, we’d like to see more road safety campaigns and road
safety made part of the national curriculum in order to eliminate
the levels of driver complacency.”
King continues; “We are pleased that a significant effort has
been made to tackle people not wearing a seatbelt, as a
distressingly high proportion of car occupants killed in
collisions were found not to be wearing one.
“Likewise, the use of covert HGV’s is a contributory factor in
the reduction of people using a hand held mobile phone behind the
wheel. The recent announcement to close the loopholes around
mobile phone use while driving will help too.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2020
** AA Populus Driver Poll, November 2018. 20,410 respondents
