Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

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BMA Board of Science
Driving and road safety
The adverse short- and long-term effects of alcohol misuse on judgement, coordination and
reactions are a common cause of road traffic crashes involving intoxicated drivers and other
intoxicated road users such as cyclists. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a significant cause
of death and serious injury from road traffic crashes in the UK. In Great Britain, there were an
estimated 14,380 casualties resulting from drink-drive road crashes in 2006, of which 540 were
estimated to be fatal and 1,960 serious. 97
This corresponds to six per cent of all road casualties and
17 per cent of road deaths in 2006. 97
The number of people killed or seriously injured in drinkdrive
crashes in Great Britain fell from over 9,000 in 1979 to less than 2,000 in 2006. 97
Between
1995 and 2006, there has been no overriding trend in the number killed or seriously injured
despite year-to-year fluctuation. In Northern Ireland, consumption of alcohol or drugs by drivers or
riders was responsible for 18 deaths and 115 seriously injured casualties in 2006, corresponding to
10 per cent of all fatal and serious road traffic crashes. 98
“”
I have treated far too many casualties following drink-drive crashes, many of whom
have been innocent victims due to an irresponsible motorist driving whilst over the
legal limit. As a doctor I do my best to treat these patients but often they are left
with permanent physical injuries and sometimes brain damage. These are tragic
occurrences which occur all too frequently.
BMA member
In the UK, drink-driving is more common in men, and among those aged under 30. According to
road casualty data for Great Britain, three per cent of all male car drivers involved in a personal
injury road crash in 2006 failed a breath test compared to 1.2 per cent of women. 97
In 2005, the
highest rates of drink-drive crashes per 100,000 license holders were found in the 17 to 19 age
group (74), followed by those in the 20 to 24 age group (71) and the 25 to 29 age group (48). 97
Figure 14 and Figure 15 show the number of convictions for drinking and driving in England and
Wales, and Scotland respectively between 1963 and 2005. In England and Wales, the number of
people convicted of drink-driving decreased substantially between 1990 and 1994, and has
fluctuated around 80,000 individuals per year since then. In Scotland, there has been a downward
trend in the number of people convicted since the mid 1970s. In Northern Ireland, the total
number of convictions for drink-driving increased from 1,890 in 2001 to 2,536 in 2005. 99
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic