Drink-drive crashes increased dramatically in 2016

8 February 2018

The number of people killed or injured through drink-drive crashes in England increased dramatically in 2016, leading to urgent calls from road safety experts for immediate and concerted action.

Provisional estimates from the UK Department of Transport suggest that between 200 and 280 people were killed in accidents in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with a central estimate of 240 deaths.

The DfT added that this is a statistically significant rise. The figures released on 8th Feb by the DfT also indicate that 9,050 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. This is up from 8,470 in 2015, and is the highest number since 2012.

The total number of collisions and accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by 6% to 6,080 in 2016 – again classed as statistically significant.

In response, IAM RoadSmart said we need more targeted policing and a lot more driver education regarding drinking and driving.