New figures have revealed that over the Christmas period, an average of 200 drivers a day were arrested for drink and drug-driving.
The stats were released last week by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has expressed its disappointment in learning that 6,550 drivers gave positive breath tests or refused or failed to give a test between November 29th and January 1st in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Although this figure is still far too high, RoSPA points out it is in fact around eight per cent fewer than the corresponding stat from last year. Also, although police managed to stop and test more nine per cent more drivers in 2013 as opposed to 2012, the actual proportion who were subsequently arrested fell.
A breakdown of the figures shows that of those who were arrested, 26 per cent (1,675) were under the age of 25.
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: “While it is good news that more tests were carried out and the proportion of drink drivers was lower than the previous Christmas, it is worrying that motorists are still choosing to get behind the wheel while over the limit."
He explained the provisional estimate for people killed in drink-drive accidents in the UK in 2012 was higher than in the previous year, so politicians, road safety groups and drivers need to do more to tackle this problem.
"Ministers in Scotland and Northern Ireland have already decided to lower the drink-drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml, and RoSPA would like the government in Westminster to follow suit," added Mr Clinton.
Although efforts traditionally focus on combating drink-driving, drug-driving is a growing problem according to RoSPA. The charity stated that
in Britain in 2012, 32 people lost their lives and nearly 250 were
seriously injured in road accidents involving
people who were impaired by illicit or medicinal drugs.
A new offence associated with driving with a specified controlled drug in the body has been introduced and will come into effect once regulations setting the limit for each drug are finalised.
Posted by Emma Grange