New report from the European Road Safety Observatory: focus on drink driving

16 October 2023

Drivers who have been drinking are 15 times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than sober drivers. This is among the statistics presented in the European Road Safety Observatory’s new thematic report on driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Around 25% of all road deaths in the EU are alcohol-related.

The crash risk associated with drugs depends on the type of drug. Of all illegal drugs, the risk is greatest - at least 5 times higher - if someone has taken amphetamines, multiple drugs, or alcohol combined  with drugs.

It has been estimated that 1.5 to 2% of the kilometres driven in the EU are done so by someone with illegal blood alcohol content (BAC). This equates to millions of drivers under the influence of alcohol. On a positive note, alcohol-related fatalities have decreased somewhat faster than the number of other road crash fatalities.

The report also highlights effective measures against impaired driving, which include: strict legislation backed by police enforcement, providing alternative transport means, awareness campaigns, rehabilitation courses, safety culture in companies, alcohol interlocks, and in-vehicle technology that warns or intervenes when impairment leads to critical events.