RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

October 2, 2003
SHOCK RISE IN DRINK-DRIVE DEATHS NEEDS ACTION NOW

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today renewed its call for the drink-drive limit to be lowered as new figures showed an increase in drink-drive deaths last year.

The estimated number of people killed in drink-related accidents went up from 530 in 2001 to 560 in 2002. Figures for people injured in drink-drive accidents are also on the rise.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said that the Government must act to stop more needless deaths. Lowering the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg could save 50 lives and prevent hundreds of injuries on UK roads each year. As well as a reduction in the limit, police had to be given powers to breath test drivers anywhere and at any time.

“Far too many people still get behind the wheel after they have been drinking. We need to send a clear message to motorists that drinking and driving is socially unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he said.

“The Government’s own figures showed that a reduction in the limit could save 50 lives and prevent 250 serious injuries and 1,200 slight injuries each year. At levels between 50mg and 80mg drivers are 2 – 4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than drivers with no alcohol. We are now one of only four countries out of 15 in the EU with a level above 50mg. How much longer must we wait for action?

“It has now been shown that those under 30 have the most drink-drive accidents. We have to do something to stop that trend.”