Drink drive casualty rate still far too high according to road safety director - The Solihull Observer

Drink drive casualty rate still far too high according to road safety director

Solihull Editorial 20th Feb, 2016 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

A ROAD safety researcher has said the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads as a result of drink driving remains at an unacceptable level.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM – a leading road safety charity – made the statement after figures revealed by the Government showed that approximately 240 people were killed in road accidents last year.

The total number of casualties of all types of drink-drive accidents last year was 8,220 – down one per cent on the 2013 figure.

Also, the number of seriously injured casualties in drink-drive incidents fell to 1,080, down two per cent on 2013 figures.




Despite the drop in casualties, Mr Greig still firmly believes that something must be done as 20 people still die every month in an alcohol related crash.

He said: “The government has increased the powers of the police to make it more difficult to avoid detection but they continue to avoid the one simple measure that could deliver fewer deaths immediately.


“That is of course a lower drink drive limit in line with Scotland.

“A recent IAM survey showed 70% of drivers support this measure.

“We need to break the deadlock on drink-drive deaths and a lower limit would send the strongest possible message that taking alcohol and driving is totally unacceptable in 2016.”

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