An estimated 9,040 people were killed or injured in drink-drive collisions in Great Britain in 2016, an increase of seven percent from 2015 and the highest number since 2012.
The figures were published by the UK Government Department for Transport (DfT) in its latest report. According to the report the total number of crashes in which at least one driver or rider was over the alcohol limit increased by six percent between 2015 and 2016.
“These statistics are very disappointing,” said Pete Williams, road safety spokesman for motoring organisation, the RAC. “The number of KSI (killed and seriously injured) accidents involving illegal levels of alcohol have been relatively stable for a number of years but are now worryingly showing an increase. We are concerned that this may be the start of a trend to which the Government must be vigilant.
“We need to understand whether it is the hard core of habitual heavy drinkers or growth in the number of drivers who admit that they occasionally drive knowing they are over the limit. Either way the message is the same – drink driving ruins lives and makes our roads more dangerous.”
