United Kingdom: Drink-drive deaths in UK hit eight-year high at 250 in 2017 – but government dismisses rise as ‘not significant’ amid calls to lower legal alcohol limit

Estimated 250 people killed by drink-drivers in 2017 according to latest data

This is a 9 per cent rise from 230 in 2016 and the worst death toll since 2009

Nearly eight in ten drink of the drink drive accidents involved male drivers

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/

By AMIE GORDON

28 August 2019

The number of people killed in drink-drive crashes on Britain’s roads has reached an eight-year high, figures have revealed today.

An estimated 250 people were killed by drink-drivers in 2017, according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport. This is a 9 per cent rise from 230 in 2016 and the worst death toll since 2009.

Male drink drivers caused 190 fatalities – compared to 30 caused by female drivers, and 930 serious accidents, compared to 180 caused by women.

Shocking figures also reveal how 141 drivers under the age of 17 were involved in an accident – eight of whom were under the influence of alcohol.

The total number of people injured or killed in drink-drive crashes was 8,600 in 2017, down from 9,040 during the previous year.

The biggest percentage of those to get behind the wheel after drinking were in the 25-29 age group, with some 650 caught drink driving.

Publication of the figures comes after recent research by road safety charity Brake found that more than 5,000 motorists have been caught drink-driving on two or more occasions in the past four years.

The Scottish Government reduced the alcohol limit for drivers from 80 milligrammes (mg) per 100 millilitres of blood to 50mg in December 2014, but the legal level in the rest of the UK remains among the highest in Europe at 80mg.

Brake’s director of campaigns Joshua Harris said the increase is drink-drive deaths is ‘incredibly concerning’.

He went on: ‘How much longer must this continue before the Government acts?

‘The current drink-driving limit gives a false impression that it is safe to drink and drive. This is a dangerous message and one that couldn’t be further from the truth.’

AA president Edmund King said there continues to be a ‘hardcore of drink-drivers’ as more than two-fifths of those failing breath tests are more than twice over the limit.

He continued: ‘As well as needing more cops in cars to catch people in the act, the ultimate responsibility lies with drivers themselves.’

RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes claimed the figures show that ‘no discernible progress has been made’ in reducing the number of drink-drive fatalities over nine years.

He added: ‘The Government should be looking closely at all its options, even reviewing the drink-drive limit.’

A DfT spokeswoman said: ‘Drink-driving is absolutely deplorable, and those who do it not only put their own lives at risk but other people’s too.

‘We are working with industry to develop new evidential roadside breath tests, meaning drink-drivers do not have the chance to sober up before being tested, while the Think! Mates Matter campaign had the biggest impact in young drivers’ attitudes to drink-driving in a decade.’