Drink driving problem increases

The drink driving problem has increased in the UK.
By MJ Woof February 24, 2021 Read time: 2 mins
The UK has seen an increase in drink driving – image © courtesy of Mike Woof
There is concern amongst bodies dealing with road safety in the UK over data showing an increase in deaths relating to drink driving. According to preliminary government data, there were an estimated 280 deaths from drink driving in 2019, an increase of 40 from the previous year. This is the highest rate of death from drink driving in the UK for 10 years.

According to the adjusted central estimate for drink-drive casualties in 2019, 2,110 people died or suffered serious injuries in crashes in which at least one driver was over the limit for alcohol. This represents a jump of 11% compared to the figures for 2018 and is also the highest figure recorded since 2011.
 
The data was provided by the UK's Department for Transport (DfT).

Road safety groups such as Brake are now calling for the legal blood alcohol limit to be reduced for England and Wales from the current 80mg alcohol/100ml blood to 50mg/100ml blood used in Scotland since December 2014. The change to this lower level brought Scotland into line with permitted blood alcohol limits for the rest of Europe.
 
Drink driving used to be a far greater problem on UK roads as well as in all other developed nations. A combination of tough enforcement and penalties as well as public education have all helped reduce the incidence of drink driving, which is now widely considered as anti social behaviour. Road deaths from drink driving were first separated from road fatalities caused by other factors back in 1979. At that time, the annual road fatality rate from drink driving was around six times higher than at present. 
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Taking responsibility could cut crashes
    December 23, 2015
    In discussing road safety, the same issues tend to crop up time and time again. Technology is often seen as a major way forward for cutting the death toll. This ignores the fact that many drivers simply use their vehicles to the limits of their capabilities and that cars with ABS or ETSC for example are simply driven faster and with less regard for other road users or the surrounding road environment.
    Read More
  • Roads to Recovery after the pandemic
    January 11, 2021
    IRF president Bill Halkias shares the Federation’s view on post-Covid
    Read More
  • Safety barriers improve highway safety
    July 3, 2012
    Highway safety could yet improve using available technology more widely Safety barriers still offer huge opportunities to improve accident statistics worldwide. There is a wide array of products on the market to suit all types of installation and with a diverse range of solutions for each application. Highway authorities have been installing barriers for many years now and the technology continues to improve, however an analysis of accident statistics shows that barriers offer further potential. Details fr
    Read More
  • Bhutan road deaths could be reduced
    October 23, 2015
    Bhutan has had some success in controlling road safety but could further reduce its death tool, according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015. The report, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), says that the country has more than 15 road deaths/100,000 people. This is higher compared than Pakistan at 14.2 deaths/100,000 people and 13.6/100,000 people in Bangladesh. However, India has a higher fatal crash rate than Bhutan with 16.6 deaths/100,000. A total of 3% of the total deaths in B
    Read More

Highlighted Content