Drink drive remains a problem

21 January 2010

Results of the Christmas crackdown on drink driving show that drink and drug driving is still a problem, despite hard hitting advertising and increased enforcement activity. Provisional figures show that 430 people were killed in drink-drive accidents in Britain in 2008.

Figures published by the Association of Chief Police Officers, show 223,423 drivers were breath tested during the month-long blitz – a rise of 21.82 per cent on the previous year. Although only three per cent of all drivers breath tested were over the limit, the percentage rose to four per cent for drivers under the age of 25 and to seven per cent for drivers involved in an accident.

Commenting on these figures, RoadSafe advisory panel member Kevin Clinton of RoSPA said: “The Christmas figures once again show action is needed to change the behaviour of a stubborn minority who continue to drink and drive despite years of education and enforcement campaigns’

RoSPA has for many years called for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Sir Peter North will advise UK Ministers on the merit of specific proposals for changes to the legislative regime for drink and drug driving, reporting by the end of March 2010.

The European Commission has adopted its first Progress Report on the implementation of the EU Alcohol Strategy of 2006. This includes an overview of drink driving related activities taking in EU level action on legislation and project support from the transport and health perspective.

The ETSC Drink Driving Monitor brings news from across the EU of steps to further improve drink driving legislation and the seasonal campaigns linked to increased drink driving enforcement.