Number of people killed or injured in drink drive accident rises to over 9,000

Drink drivers killed or injured over 9,000 people in a single year in Great Britain, new figures out today reveal.

Boozy motorists were responsible for injuries to some 9,040 people in 2016, the highest number since 2012 and up significantly on the 8,470 the year before.

And experts estimated drink drive motorists killed 230 people – up on the 200 the year before. 

The figures will spark alarm as they show that after several years of falling drink drive accidents the number has started to pick up again.

This means that almost a seventh (13 per cent) of all deaths in road accidents in 2016 were because of drink driving.   

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at road safety charity Brake, called for the Government to take tougher action on drink drivers in the wake of today’s figures.

Police numbers have fallen considerably in recent years amid squeezed budgets, with the number of traffic officers falling by 24 per cent since 2012, according to reports.

Boozy motorists were responsible for injuries to some 9,040 people in 2016, the highest number since 2012 and up significantly on the 8,470 the year before

He said: ‘How many more lives must be needlessly lost before the Government acts on drink-driving? 

‘Today’s figures show that drink-driving is an increasing blight on British roads and yet the Government sits on its hands and refuses to address the issue.’

What is the law on drink driving in Britain and how does it compare to other countries?

England and Wales has among the most lenient drink driving laws in Europe.

Motorists are allowed to have 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine. 

This does not translate into a fixed number of drinks as people of different ages, weights and alcohol tolerance process drink at different rates.

However, as a rule of thumb most drivers drinking would limit themselves to aroundon pint or ine glass of win.

But ministers have faced calls to change the law so that drivers are not allowed to consume any alcohol before they get behind the wheel – or at least far less.

In most other European countries, the limit is less, usually 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood3.

The alcohol limit for drivers in Scotland is lower than in the rest of the UK after they lowered it to 50 milligrammes of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood in December 2014. 

 

The charity pointed out that England allows drivers to have more alcohol in their blood when they go driving than nearly any other European country – joint top with Malta.

They warn this risks lulling drivers into a false sense of security over how much they can drink, and some get behind the wheel having had too many glasses.

Mr Harris said the Government should change the law so that drivers are not allowed to consume any alcohol before getting behind the wheel. 

He said: ‘Only this zero-tolerance approach can create the change required to rid our roads of the menace of drink-driving.

‘The current drink-driving limit gives a false impression that it is safe to drink and drive – this is a dangerous message and one that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

‘Research has shown even very small amounts of alcohol dramatically affect safe driving – drivers with levels of alcohol in their blood just half the current legal limit are at least twice more likely to die in a crash than those with no alcohol at all.’

‘Our current drink-driving law lacks clarity, is badly understood and supports the perception that mixing alcohol and driving is acceptable – this needs to change. 

‘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.’

More people are injured in drink drive accidents in wales than in any other part of Great Britain, at 6.1 per cent, the figures show. 

This was followed by Scotland at 5.3 per cent and England at 4.9 per cent. 

The figures will alarm ministers including Theresa May (pictured yesterday with Prince William at a remembrance service for a World War One battle)

The figures will alarm ministers including theresa May (pictured yesterday with primnnce Wilkiam at a remembrance service for a World War

Within England, the South West had the highest rate at 6.2 per cent while Greater London had the lowest at 2.2 per cent.  

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: ‘Drink driving is completely unacceptable, which is why there are tough penalties and rigorous enforcement in place for those who do this. 

‘The latest statistics do not show a statistically significant increase in drink driving fatalities.

‘Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and the number of fatalities has fallen by 44 per cent over the last ten years, but we are determined to do more.’  



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