An estimated 260 people were killed in drink-drive road collisions in 2021, the worst casualty rate since 2009.
The Department for Transport has published Reported road casualties in Great Britain involving illegal alcohol levels: 2021, which reveals that between 240 and 280 people were killed in collisions in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.
The central estimate of 260 deaths is the highest level since 2009, with a statistically significant increase compared to the previous year, officials said.
The DfT added that while the increase in 2021 from 2020 was statistically significant, it was 'less confident' of the significance of the change from pre-pandemic years as this was lower and could have been caused by variation in the projection method.
AA president Edmund King said: ‘It is so tragic that 260 needless deaths occurred as a result of irresponsible drink drivers in 2021. This is against a backdrop of reduced travel due to Covid lockdowns and, even more tragically, tens of thousands dying from Covid.
‘There is no excuse for drink driving. If you are going to drive, don’t drink. If you are going to drink, don’t drive.’
Overall, an estimated 6,740 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. This represents an increase of 4% from 6,450 in 2020 and is the second lowest figure recorded since 1979.
The estimate of fatalities is based on coroners’ and procurators’ fiscal reports for 78% of the drivers or riders who were killed in road traffic collisions in that year in addition to breath tests taken at the scene where the driver was not killed.
The 260 estimated fatalities represent about 17% of all (1,558) deaths in reported road collisions in 2021. Officials said the prevalence of drink-driving in road deaths has varied between 12% and 18% over the last 30 years.
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