Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: 2010 provisional estimates for accidents involving illegal alcohol levels

Provisional 2010 drink drive estimates show:

- Fatalities resulting from drink and drive accidents fell by 35 per cent from 380 in 2009 to 250 in 2010, whilst seriously injured casualties fell by 18 per cent from 1,490 to 1,230. Slight casualties resulting from drink drive accidents fell by 19 per cent from 10,150 to 8,220. Total casualties also fell by 19 per cent from 12,030 to 9,700.

- Fatal accidents decreased to 230 in 2010, a decrease of 34 per cent. Overall drink and drive accidents fell by 18 per cent from 8,050 to 6,630.

The full document can be accessed here.

PACTS comments: Between 2009 and 2010 the reduction in fatalities resulting from drink and drive accidents was 35%, while the corresponding reduction in the overall number of fatalities (published in provisional data for Reported Road Casualties 2010) was 17%. This graph shows drink drive casualties as a percentage of all casualties, illustrating that deaths related to illegal drink driving represent a falling proportion of all road deaths.

The big fall in drink drive casualties is good news, implying that enforcement and education in this area are having an impact. However, given the clear link between alcohol consumption above 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and the increased likelihood of crash involvement, it would be appropriate to consider how the figures would differ if drink drive fatalities were defined as those with more than 50mg rather than 80.

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