Drink-driving is on the up again – road safety charity IAM RoadSmart urges Government and police to get into action to reverse worrying trend
Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has urged police and Government to act now to reverse a serious upswing in the numbers of people killed and injured through drink-drive crashes in 2016.
The Department of Transport says provisional estimates for 2016 show that between 200 and 280 people were killed in accidents in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with a central estimate of 240 deaths (reference 1). This is a statistically significant rise.
The figures released today by the DfT, say an estimated 9,050 people were killed or injured in 2016 in a crash involving a drunk driver and this is also a statistically significant rise from 8,470 in 2015, and is the highest number since 2012.
The total number of collisions and accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by six per cent to 6,080 in 2016. IAM RoadSmart was concerned enough by the static figures since 2010 but this new upswing underlines that now is the time to get into action with more proactive policies.
Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “Today’s figures are hugely disappointing. We need more targeted policing and a lot more driver education regarding drinking and driving. Targeted policing in known areas would send a clear message to those still prepared to have a drink and drive.
“We suggest a two-pronged attack: firstly, continued education and a lower limit for the law abiding majority who might stray or who don’t yet understand the risk, and secondly, getting the police to be more up front about what targeted enforcement actually means as they seek to catch those selfish enough to ignore the current limit.”
IAM RoadSmart also reiterated its call for compulsory drink-drive re-education courses for all who are caught driving over the limit.
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Notes to editors:
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IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.
To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com
To find out more about IAM RoadSmart’s Driver Retraining Academy visit www.iamdra.org.uk
To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups
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