Road death numbers from drink driving ‘abhorrent’

The Department for Transport has revealed that there were an estimated 300 people killed in drink-drive collisions on UK roads in 2022.

This represents a 13-year high and is up from the 260 fatalities recorded in 2021.

Meanwhile, road safety data also means that the percentage of road deaths that were drink-drive related in 2022 – 18% – is the same as it was in 1987.

In total, 1,920 people were killed or seriously injured as a result of drinking and driving in 2022, which is three per cent up on 2021, with total drink-drive casualties for the year recorded at 6,800.

Drink driving ‘abhorrent’

Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesperson, said: “While the number of people killed by drink-drivers is still thankfully far lower now compared to the final decades of the 20th century, the fact we’re back to a similar rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving as we were in the late 1980s is abhorrent.

“It’s abundantly clear that a hard core of people, especially men, continue to put the lives of all road users at risk by choosing to get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol.”

Drink driving at 13-year high

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has now called for immediate action.

Policy and public affairs manager William Porter, said: “We strongly support the increase in frequency of random roadside breathalyser testing and additional resources for police forces to enable them to carry this out. Alongside this, more drink-drive rehabilitation courses will be a key part of tackling this issue, given the evidence that shows that those undertaking such courses are two-and-a-half times less likely to reoffend.

“Finally, the UK government should give serious consideration to reviewing and reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales.”