Action needed to tackle rise in drink drive deaths

A road safety charity has called on the Government to take action in the wake of new road traffic accident figures showing a 17% increase in drink drive deaths in Britain.

The statistics, from the Department for Transport, reveal that in 2012, 280 people were killed (one in six road deaths) and 1,210 were seriously injured in crashes involving someone over the limit. This compares to 240 killed and 1,270 seriously injured in 2011.

Preventing these deaths and serious injuries would save many families from horrendous, needless suffering, and save the economy £709 million each year, says Brake.

The charity points to moves being made in Northern Ireland and Scotland to reduce their drink drive limits, and argues that more should be done in England and Wales.

It is calling for:

• a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg alcohol per 100ml blood, in line with evidence that even one drink dramatically increases crash risk. A blood alcohol level of 20-50mg increases your likelihood of crashing three-fold, says Brake.
• greater priority and funding for traffic policing, to enable increased numbers of specialist roads police, and increased breath-testing. International evidence shows greater enforcement helps to reduce devastating crashes.

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