Drink-driving on the rise in rural areas

 A lack of public transport in rural areas is worsening a drinkdrive epidemic, an MP has suggested.

New figures reveal that more motorists are charged with driving over the legal alcohol limit in largely rural areas. Lincolnshire prosecutes the most drivers per population, followed by North Wales, Warks, Dyfed-powys and North Yorks.

John Hayes, the transport minister and Lincolnshire MP, suggested that the problem of rural drinkdriving is being “compounded” by a lack of sufficient public transport.

Mr Hayes said: “We have a dispersed population in Lincolnshire and a sparsity of public transport. Many people are dependent on a car, which may compound the issue.”

Edmund King, the AA president, echoed Mr Hayes’s comments on poor public transport.

It added: “It could also be down to more targeted police enforcement, but whatever the reasons, there is no excuse for drink-driving.”