Worrying drink-drive statistics

It’s worrying to report that figures out today show that Sunderland has the worst rate of motorists drug and drinkdriving in the country.

Research by MoneySuperMarket reveals the postal areas that have the highest rate of drivers with drink or drug-driving convictions on car insurance policies.

The analysis, which looked at seven million car insurance quotes found that those living in Sunderland SR postcode areas have the highest number of drink and drug-driving convictions nationally, with nearly three (2.91) for every 1,000 drivers, an increase of 1.3 compared to last year.

When broken down, the figures showed some areas of the city were much higher.

In the SR3 area the figure rose to 5.5 per 1,000 drivers, SR2 was 3.95, SR1 was 3.89 and SR4 was 2.97.

Road safety campaigners naturally aren’t happy with the figures and are concerned the figures have risen nationally since last year.

Jason Wakeford, Director of Campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, has urged that the drink-drive limit in England and Wales – the highest in Europe – must be lowered urgently and also called for the reversal of cuts to road traffic policing.

Although the figures show a minority are offending, Mr Wakeford said: “Selfish drink-drivers destroy lives and inflict appalling suffering on families up and down the country.”

We echo his sentiments and hope drug or drink-drivers take heed.