Wednesday 19th September 2001

10 per cent increase in drink-drive casualties - IAS condemns Government's record

The IAS today accused the Government of shameful neglect of the drink-drive problem, and of caving in to vested interests. The comments were prompted by the release of figures showing that, despite a fall in the overall number of deaths and injuries in 2000, casualties from drink driving rose by around 10 per cent, to their highest level for 10 years.

The IAS said:

"The Government, which took office promising so much has delivered nothing. It promised it would introduce a package of measures to reduce casualties, centered around a lower legal alcohol limit for driving. But it has clearly surrendered to pressure from the alcohol industry and the national campaign against drink driving is being allowed to peter out. The result is that the improvement in casualties is now being reversed, and the number of dead and injured is climbing again. The Government's weakness and neglect is now costing peoples' lives."

The IAS called on the Government to ensure that the 2000 figures are no more than an unwelcome blip by doing what it promised it would do when it first took office and lower the legal alcohol limit to 50mg% - the level of most other European Union countries - and ensure that this lower limit is properly enforced.

Note

Road Accidents Great Britain: The Casualty Report 2000 (DTLR) shows that in 2000, drink drive casualties of all severities rose by around 10 per cent to over 18,000, the highest figure since 1990.