Unfit to drive
Drink-driving deaths at the highest level in over a decade
DRINK-DRIVING deaths have reached their highest level since 2009, prompting renewed calls for the legal alcohol limit to be cut by a third.
The Department for Transport estimates around 280 people were killed on roads in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-driving limit in 2019.
When looking at serious injuries, there were 1,830 estimated drinkdriving casualties, up 9.3% from 2018 and the highest level recorded since 2011.
However, the data suggests a fall in figures for less severe drinkdriving injuries. The estimated slight alcohol-related casualties decreased by 15.2% compared to the previous year to 5,750, the lowest level recorded.
Drink-driving deaths had been falling before levelling off from 2010 onwards, and even with a rise in 2019, they’re still lower than previously.
Deaths in drink-driving-related accidents made up 16% of all road fatalities in 2019. In 1979, the rate was 26%.
David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), suggested figures for 2020 may even go higher due to alcohol overconsumption during lockdown.
England and Wales have among the most lenient drink-driving laws in Europe. The legal alcohol limit for driving in England and Wales is currently 80mg per 100ml of blood, compared to 50mg per 100ml in Scotland and most European countries.
A new PACTS study commissioned by the Department for Transport published in January urged the government to lower the drink-driving limit in England and Wales to 50mg per 100ml.
Mr Davies said: “The legal limit should be reduced in England and Wales, police should be given additional powers to test drivers, the High-risk Offender Scheme should be reformed, rehabilitation courses should be designed for those with mental health and alcohol problems, and the growing danger of combining drink and drugs driving needs to be addressed.
“Scotland introduced a reduced drink-drive limit in 2014, in line with most other countries in Europe.
“It has been accepted by the public; it has not significantly impacted pubs and restaurants or overloaded the police or the courts. Northern Ireland plans to go further, with a zero limit for novice and professional drivers.”
The drink-driving limit has not been reformed in England and Wales since the Road Safety Act 1967.
However, the Department for Transport said that legislation has been strengthened over the years, including tougher penalties for offenders which can include potentially unlimited fines, disqualification from driving, or facing imprisonment for the most serious offences.
Mr Davies said: “A lower limit is not a magic bullet but government policies to reduce drink-driving will lack credibility as long as they avoid this change.”