Hit our drink-drivers hard
IAM RoadSmart is once again disappointed at yet another year of stagnation in the annual drinkdrive statistics announced on February 12 saying the ‘hardcore’ of persistent drink-drivers are still not getting the message.
The Department For Transport’s (DFT) estimates for 2018 show that between 220 and 270 people were killed in crashes in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.
The DfT said: “The provisional estimate of fatalities for 2018 is similar to levels seen since 2010.”
Some 8,700 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, a rise of 1% from 8,600 in 2017.
Most worryingly, the total number of crashes where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by 4% to 5,900 in 2018.
IAM RoadSmart is calling for the Government to introduce a ‘smarter’ package of measures to tackle this important issue.
Measures include a further lowering of the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland, wider use of drink-drive rehab courses and seizing the vehicles of repeat offenders.
Once again progress on reducing the toll of death and injuries from drink-driving has stalled.
There is no one simple answer to reducing these figures, but IAM RoadSmart believe in a much smarter package of measures from the Government including a lower drink-drive limit to reinforce good behaviour, fast-track of evidential roadside testing machines to release police resources and tailored approaches to help drivers with alcohol problems.
Rehab courses work and IAM thinks all those convicted of drinkdriving should be sent on one automatically rather than ‘opt-in.’
More use of alcohol interlocks and extra penalties such as vehicle forfeiture could all be part of a more joined-up approach.
Drink-drivers are simply not etting the message, and the figures won’t improve until policy changes.
Neil Greig, director of policy and research, IAM RoadSmart STRAIN IS RELENTLESS
THE BMA is warning that strain on health service is ‘relentless’ and staff are ‘run into the ground.’
Latest NHS performance figures show nearly 200,000 people waited over four hours on trolleys this winter and 12-hour trolley waits are almost six times more than last winter.
These figures confirm what doctors have told us and indeed the reality experienced by patients daily; that the strain on our health service is relentless, deepening and showing no sign of recovery.
The Government is simply failing to get a grip on winter pressures.
Stories of patient deaths on corridors, rammed emergency departments and cancellations of patient’s procedures as a daily occurrence are becoming the new norm as doctors say they are exhausted and run into the ground. It is an unacceptable situation for a civilised health service; it is failing patients and is not sustainable.
With the budget coming up next month, the Government must fulfill its responsibility and obligation to end the shameful suffering experienced by patients due to this serious lack of capacity.
The BMA is calling for an increase in total health funding by 4.1% annually as current spending commitments fall short of what is needed if we are to avert another winter crisis.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul BMA council chair