Drink-and-drive deaths down in 2007

By Tom Richards

Motor Industry

08 August 2008 12:08

The latest figures from the Department for Transport show the number of people killed in drink-driving accidents in the UK fell in 2007. According to the data the number of fatal accidents dropped by 16 percent from 2006 to 2007 (from 490 to 410), while the number of deaths in these accidents fell 18 percent (down to 460 in 2007 from 650 in 2006).

But while the number of deaths is going down, hospitals are still being kept busy as drink-drive casualties rose from 11,840 in 2006 to 12,260 in 2007, a jump of four percent.

‘It’s good news that the number of deaths in drink-drive crashes where drivers were over the legal limit fell in 2007, but the figures don’t tell the whole story,’ says Cathy Keeler, head of campaigns at Brake, the road safety charity. ‘Even more deaths are associated with drivers who are not over the limit, but have a significant amount of alcohol in their system. No alcohol is the only possible safe amount when driving.’

Drink-and-drive fatalities made up 15.7 percent of all road deaths in 2007, down from 16.1percent in 2006.  Do you think lowering the limit for alcohol would help? Click 'Add your comment' below and have your say.

By Tom Richards