Provisional drink-drive casualty figures - AA Comments

Commenting on the release of provisional drink-drive casualty figures*, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA says; “Although these are estimated figures, an increase of casualties caused by drink-driving is worrying. If the figures remain correct, this would be the largest year-on-year rise for a decade and a half.

“Part of the problem for this increase is the number of hard-core drink-drivers, those who are excessively over the limit. Potentially these are drivers that have behaved in such a manner for years and feel that they will never be caught.

“To help redress the problem, we need more road traffic officers targeting people in places where there is most likely to be the problem. The statistics need to show the breakdown of accidents by time of day to assess the proportion of drivers getting drunk at the pub versus those drinking at home who become a particular menace the morning after. We would also encourage people to notify the police if they believe a drink-driver is out on the road.

“For those tempted to drink-drive the best advice is: if you’re going to drink, don’t drive and if you’re going to drive, don’t drink.”

* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/ras51-reported-drinking-and-driving