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

  • Young distracted drivers causing crashes
    March 26, 2015
    The US-based AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has carried out research revealing shocking figures on young driver distraction. According to video analysis, 58% of moderate-severe crashes involving teenaged drivers in the US include distraction as a causal factor. This figure is around four times than was previously thought based on police reports.
    Read More
  • Major road safety improvement identified in Northern Germany
    January 31, 2013
    A series of measures carried out in Northern Germany have had a notable effect on improving road safety. The latest data available reveals that in 2012, the number of people killed in road crashes dropped by 17% compared with the previous year for the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Tougher police enforcement on speeding is reckoned to be a major factor in reducing North Rhine-Westphalia’s road fatality rate to 526, compared with 634 in 2011. The police data shows that the tougher enforcemen
    Read More
  • UAE road safety progressing, but major work still to be done
    April 25, 2012
    Road safety in the UAE is progressing at a faster rate than many other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, but still has major milestones to achieve before it can sit among the countries in the world with lowest fatality rates, according to a road safety expert who will address the Gulf Traffic Conference, taking place from 12-13 December 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
    Read More
  • Highways England, Kier trial warning airbag
    February 23, 2021
    “Home Safe and Well”* is not just an inflated phrase put out by Highways England to raise awareness of work zone dangers. A large prototype airbag is adding some highly visible emphasis to the agency’s safety focus, reports David Arminas
    Read More

Highlighted Content