RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
January 9, 2001 [BBC News]
FEARS OVER INCREASE IN CHRISTMAS DRINK DRIVERS
An 11 per cent increase in drink-drive accidents over the Christmas period was "extremely worrying", The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today.
The Association of Chief Police Officers said the total number of positive breath tests in collisions dealt with by the police in the Christmas and New Year period was 1,081 - 11 per cent up on the previous year.
Kevin Clinton of RoSPA’s Road Safety Department said: "We are extremely concerned by these figures. It shows the need for even greater efforts to make people realise how dangerous and irresponsible it is to drink and drive."
RoSPA is calling for:
- A reduction in the drink drive limit from 80mg to 50mg
- Increased police powers to stop and test drivers
- More use of rehabilitation courses for offenders
- Continued high-profile publicity and education campaigns
"The figures are a warning to everyone that the drink-drive problem is still very much with us. If people know they are going to drink, they should plan how to get home without the need to drive. In that way, we might see a reduction in the number of lives wrecked by drink drivers in 2001," Kevin Clinton said.
