From The Metro:
There were 380 [drink-drive] fatalities in 2010, compared to a total of 250 deaths in 2009, reveals the department’s provisional report. Serious injuries from drink-driving incidents increased 18 per cent to 1,230 and slight injuries were upn 19 per cent at 8,220. In 1979, when drink-drive casualty records began, there were as few as 164 deaths.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: "The provisional figures suggest the number of drink-drive deaths is now 131 per cent higher than 30 years ago – this is very unwelcome. We are determined to continue to take firm action against the increasingly large minority of drivers who ignore the limit."
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "These drink-drive figures are to be expected, because of the revelation earlier this week that police caught more drink-drivers – especially young motorists – in the summer 2011 crackdown than in 2010."
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6 comments:
Some very dubious stats there. Back in 1979 there were over three times as many road deaths each year than there are now, and it was always my understanding that, in those days, well over 1,000 a year involved alcohol.
Maybe as pubs close, more people are tempted to drive or they have to drive longer distances.
C, well spotted. I was making up figures to show that "Britain is suffering from a binge drink epidemic" just like they do. There is no such epidemic, of course.
AKH, sorry, you fell for it.
Typical apples and oranges twaddle.
How many more cars are on the road?
How has the right of the police to administer a breath test changed?
Is the same definition used to define "drink-drive casualty" and "drink-drive death"?
Answer these questions and you'll find it impossible to compare 1979 and 2009 because different things are being measured in a different way.
Nobody of course breaks out how many of these "fatalities" are drunken pedestrians or cyclists falling into the path of cars.
I expect it's the majority, but we must not be allowed to know that.
Actually, I believe there is a standard definition - "fatal accidents in which one or more drivers (including the deceased) tested positive for alcohol above the legal limit". Drunken cyclists and pedestrians are not included. I believe about 40% of all adult pedestrians killed in road accidents are above the drink-drive limit.
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