Nearly 330 people killed on the roads during 2017

Drink-driving road fatalities are at an 8-year high as nearly 330 people were killed on UK roads due to drink-driving during 2017.

It’s the worst recorded list of fatalities since the death toll of 380 people in 2009.

New data released from the Department of Transport show’s a provisional death toll between 240 to 330 people were killed in 2017 due to accidents involving at least one drunk driver.

The estimated 290 road fatalities represents an astonishing increase on 2016 – a rise of 26% with an extra 60 deaths.

And these figures are set to rise as almost a quarter of drivers aged 25 to 44 admitted to driving over the limit whilst the numbers were significantly higher for drivers aged 25 to 44, with almost a quarter admitting to driving over the limit.

The increase is thought to be associated with a major drop in police numbers, with 20,000 officers leaving the force since 2010, and drivers believing they have a better chance of getting away with drink-driving.

Around 28 per cent of drink-driving arrests happen the morning after drinking.

Research undertaken by scrapcarcomparison.co.uk shows there needs to be a stricter limits on drink-driving.
“We are seeing a lot of cars written off through drink-driving in the past year and the figures are alarming. There needs to be a zero tolerance policy to drink-driving, one drink is too many but with more and more road policing cuts this almost looks impossible to manage. It’s now about motorists using common sense and not abusing the law. An extra 60 people have died in the past year alone and things could be getting worse.”

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink you could get 6 months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink could see 14 years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a ban from driving for at least 2 years whilst an extended driving test before your licence is returned will need to be undertaken.