New drink-drive figures strengthen case for Road Safety Strategy reforms

Road safety experts have welcomed a significant reduction in drink-drive deaths, but warned that more than 200 people still lose their lives every year, underlining the need for the next generation of road safety measures.

New Department for Transport figures published in July estimate that 220 people died in drink-drive crashes during 2024, down from 260 the previous year, while the total number of casualties was slightly higher at 6,350.

Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense Laboratories, said Britain had achieved remarkable progress in reducing drink-drive deaths over the past four decades, but warned there was no room for complacency.

“Britain has made enormous progress since the late 1970s. Drink-drive deaths have fallen by 87% and countless lives have been saved.

“However, the total number of people killed has remained stubbornly above 200 for the past decade.

“The evidence suggests we’ve reached the point where the measures that transformed road safety over the last forty years are delivering diminishing returns.

“If we want to prevent more families receiving that devastating knock on the door, we now need the next generation of road safety measures to drive these figures down even further.”

The Government is currently considering changes to drink-drive laws as part of its forthcoming Road Safety Strategy, including reducing the legal alcohol limit in England and Wales from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Abbott believes this should form part of a wider package of reforms designed to reduce drink-driving still further.

“Lowering the legal alcohol limit would help identify more impaired drivers before they cause a collision.

“But it shouldn’t be seen in isolation. A lower limit, stronger enforcement, wider use of roadside breath testing and continued public education all have a role to play.

“Some people assume that reducing the legal limit to 50mg means that amount of alcohol is somehow ‘safe’. It isn’t.

“Scientific evidence shows that even at 50mg, a driver is still around five times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than someone who has had nothing to drink.

“A lower limit isn’t about redefining what is safe. It’s about intervening earlier, discouraging people from taking the risk in the first place and preventing more collisions.”

Abbott added that legislation must be backed by effective enforcement.

“Changing the law is one thing. Enforcing it is another.

“Home Office figures published last week showed the number of officers working in specialist Traffic Units has fallen by around a quarter over the past decade.

“If drivers don’t believe there’s a realistic chance of being stopped and tested, the deterrent effect of any law is inevitably reduced.

“The first generation of drink-drive laws transformed public attitudes and saved thousands of lives. The challenge now is to build on that success with the next generation of road safety measures.”

Previous AlcoSense research found that 58% of UK motorists believe the most effective way of tackling drink driving is through a combination of lower legal limits and stronger police enforcement, rather than relying on either measure alone.

According to analysis by AlcoSense of the new Department for Transport figures:

• The South East again recorded the highest number of drink-drive casualties (1,110), despite a year-on-year reduction of 150
• June was the worst month for drink drive collisions
• 80% of drink drive casualties were caused by male drivers