Need to break the deadlock

They show that between 210 and 270 people were killed in incidents in Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with a central estimate of 240 deaths – unchanged since 2010.

The number of seriously injured casualties in drink-drive incidents fell by 2%, from 1,100 in 2013 to 1,080.

The Government said that, if this figure is confirmed in the final estimates published late this year, it will be the lowest number of seriously injured casualties on record.

The total number of casualties of all types in drink- drive incidents is 8,220.

This is down 1% on the 2013 figure.

The total number of drink- drive incidents of all severities fell by 1% to 5,620.

These statistics show that Britain is flat-lining on drink-drive deaths.

Total numbers of drink-drive incidents have gone down slightly.

However 20 people die every month in an alcohol related crash which is unacceptable.

The Government has increased the powers of the police to make it more difficult to avoid detection.

But it continues to avoid the one simple measure that could deliver fewer deaths immediately.

That is, of course, a lower drink-drive limit in line with Scotland.

A recent Institute of Advanced Motorists survey showed 70% of drivers support this measure.

We need to break the deadlock on drink drive deaths.

A lower limit would send the strongest possible message that taking alcohol and driving is totally socially unacceptable in 2016.

Neil Greig,

Director of policy and research,

Institute of Advanced Motorists,

Chiswick High Road,

London.