Organisation: Department for Transport
Date uploaded: 11th December 2012
Date published/launched: November 2012
This consultation encompasses the legislative changes the Government proposed in its response of March 2011 to the reports on drink and drug driving.
The consultation seeks views about proceeding with:
• The withdrawal of the ‘statutory option’.
• Changes as to when preliminary breath tests are needed.
• Changes to the testing procedures in hospital.
• Changes to who can assess whether someone is under the influence of drugs.
• Amendments to the regimes for aviation, rail and shipping which mirror the road regime.
Summary of key statistics
• In 1967, nearly a quarter (22.4%) of road fatalities was associated with drink driving – that is an estimated 1,640 out of a total of 7,319. In just under 45 years the number of fatalities has fallen to 280 in 2011, a decrease of 26% from 2009 and 83% lower than 1979. There are still very many drink drive casualties, with an estimated total of virtually 10,000 in 2011. Fatalities resulting from drink driving collisions still account for 15% of all road fatalities.
• Drink drive injuries represent a far smaller proportion of all road injuries than the corresponding proportions of fatalities. Nevertheless, in 2011, 1,290 reported serious injuries and 8,430 slight injuries occurred when someone was driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
• The numbers of drink drive related casualties increased by 3% from 9,700 in 2010 to 9,990. Drink drive fatalities increased by 12% from 250 in 2010 to 280 in 2011. However, although the 2011 fatality figure is almost one sixth of what the equivalent 1979 figure was (1,640), it is still the case that more e than 50,000 drink drive
offenders are convicted each year.
For more information contact:
Nehal Thakore