BLAST: Brake angry about 17% rise in deaths
Road safety charity Brake are demanding urgent government action after figures showed a whopping 17% rise in drink-drive deaths.
Government statistics revealed 280 people were killed and 1,210 seriously injured in crashes involving someone over the limit last year, with one in six road deaths caused by drink driving.
In 2011, there were 240 drink-drive deaths and 1,270 serious injuries, and Brake are insisting that the government must move to reverse the trend and save the economy a predicted £709million each year.
Brake are calling for a zero tolerance drink-drive limit of 20mg alcohol per 100ml blood, reflecting evidence that even one drink dramatically increases crash risk.
They are also insisting on greater priority and funding for traffic policing, to enable increased numbers of specialist roads police, and increased breath-testing.
Julie Townsend, Deputy Chief Executive at Brake, said: “We have the highest drink-drive limit in Europe, and it sends out the dreadful message that a drink or two before driving is acceptable.
“Every other country in Europe bar one has decided a lower limit is safer, yet our government rejected the strong recommendations for a tougher approach.
“We are appealing to Westminster to review that decision in light of today’s figures showing a horrifying increase in people who are being violently killed at the hands of drink drivers.
“These deaths are cruel and needless, ending lives too soon and leaving behind traumatised and broken families to pick up the pieces.
“The evidence shows that tougher laws and greater enforcement would help prevent these casualties: we need the government to act urgently upon this.”
Image courtesy of West Midlands Police, with thanks.
