- Record highs for dangerous driving and causing injury through
dangerous driving
- Drug driving up 54% compared to 2020
- “A shocking return to the roads after the pandemic” says AA
Analysis of 2021 Crown and Magistrates Court data by the AA* has
found that both drug driving and speeding cases are at record
highs.
As drivers returned to the roads in 2021 following a year of
lockdowns and travel restrictions, the number of drug driving
cases increased by 54% to 21,411. Speeding cases rose to 208,496
compared to 167,596 the year before.
Three other offences reached record highs last year:
- Causing serious injury through dangerous driving (793)
- Dangerous driving (7,605)
- Drivers failing to supply information when required (96,801)
Meanwhile, more than 32,500 drivers were in the dock for drinking
and driving, but just 6,169 people were taken to court for using
a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel.
A total of 638,044 motoring cases were taken to court last year
with 565,440 people found guilty, showing that 85.5% of motoring
related court cases end with a conviction.
While some of the increases can be attributed to the suspension
in court sitting days during the pandemic, the AA is worried that
the standard of driving fell as people got behind the wheel again
as restrictions eased.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “Our
analysis shows a shocking return to the roads after the pandemic.
“With record highs of dangerous driving, drug driving and
speeding, it is a timely reminder to every driver that being
behind the wheel is a serious responsibility and that poor
driving can have serious consequences.
“Drug driving has increased year-on-year since records began and
while more Police Forces are carrying out roadside tests, it
seems some people are willing to try and chance it. We need to
put more focus on this issue and eliminate it completely from our
roads.
“We hope this is a short-term blight in the figures and that
driving standards have improved when the 2022 statistics are
announced.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Criminal Justice System
statistics quarterly: December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
