The Department for Transport has published provisional estimates on personal injury drink drive crashes in Great Britain for 2016. These show a statistically significant rise in all key crash data, relating to at least one driver being over the alcohol limit: the number of fatalities; the number of killed or injured; and the total number of crashes.
Commenting on the statistics, Joshua Harris, Director of Campaigns at road safety charity Brake, said: “These figures must be a wake-up call to the Government, forcing them to act now to eradicate the menace of drink-driving from our roads. The number of drink-drive related deaths, injuries and total crashes in 2016 have all increased from levels which were already unacceptable. This deeply concerning trend highlights the urgent need for the Government to enforce an effective zero tolerance drink-driving level across the UK.
“Research has shown even very small amounts of alcohol dramatically affect safe driving – drivers with just 20-50mg alcohol per 100ml of blood are at least three times more likely to die in a crash than those with no alcohol at all.
“The current drink-driving limit gives a false impression that it is safe to drink and drive. Only by changing this perception can we eradicate the needless loss of life caused by alcohol on our roads. Brake is calling for the Government to implement an effective zero tolerance drink-drive limit of 20mg per 100ml of blood, making clear to drivers that not a drop of alcohol is safe.”
