Section:GDN 1N PaGe:10 Edition Date:190829 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 28/8/2019 17:36 cYanmaGentaYellowb
- The Guardian Thursday 29 Aug ust 2019
(^10) National
PA Media
The number of people killed in drink-
drive crashes on Britain’s roads has
reached an eight-year high.
Department for Transport (DfT)
data shows there were between 230
and 270 fatalities in accidents where
at least one driver or rider was over the
alcohol limit in 2017. The median fi g-
ure of 250 is the highest since 2009.
It is also an increase of 20 compared
with 2016, although the DfT said the
rise was not statistically signifi cant.
The number of people killed or
injured in drink-drive crashes was
8,600 in 2017, down from 9,040 the
previous year.
Recent research by the road safety
charity Brake found that more than
5,000 motorists ha d been caught
drink-driving on two or more occasions
in the past four years.
The Scottish government reduced
the alcohol limit for drivers from 80
PA Media
The former Liverpool, Aston Villa and
Wales striker Dean Saunders, 55, has
been jailed for 10 weeks for failing to
provide a breath specimen after being
arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
Saunders had earlier pleaded not
guilty but yesterday admitted failing
milligra m s per 100 millilitres of blood
to 50 in December 2014, but the legal
level of 80 in the rest of the UK remains
among the highest in Europe.
Brake’s director of campaigns,
Joshua Harris , said the increase in
drink-drive deaths was “incredibly
concerning”.
“How much longer must this con-
tinue before the government acts?” he
asked. “The current drink- driving limit
gives a false impression that it is safe
to drink and drive. This is a dangerous
message and one that couldn’t be fur-
ther from the truth.”
The AA president, Edmund King ,
said there continue d to be a “hardcore
of drink-drivers”, as more than two-
fi fths of those failing breath tests were
more than tw o times over the limit.
“As well as needing more cops in
cars to catch people in the act, the ulti-
mate responsibility lies with drivers
themselves ,” he said.
The RAC’s head of policy, Nicholas
Lyes, said the fi gures show ed that no
discernible progress ha d been made
in reducing the number of drink-drive
fatalities over nine years.
“The government should be looking
closely at all its options, even review-
ing the drink-drive limit,” he said.
The Department for Transport
said: “Drink driving is absolutely
deplorable, and those who do it not
only put their own lives at risk but
other people’s too.”
It added: “We are working with
industry to develop new evidential
roadside breath tests, meaning drink
drivers do not have the chance to
sober up before being tested, while
the THINK! Mates Matter campaign
had the biggest impact in young
drivers’ attitudes to drink-driving in
a decade.
“On top of this, our Road Safety
Action plan, published in July,
includes more than 70 diff erent meas-
ures to help drive down the number of
deaths on our roads.”
Lower drink-drive limit
urged as UK death toll
reaches eight-year high
‘Arrogant’ former
footballer jailed for
refusing breath test
to comply with a roadside breath test
and failing to provide a breath sample
for analysis at a police station. He was
banned from driving for 30 months
and told to pay £620 court costs.
He said he had drunk two pints at
Chester races. His lawyer suggested
this may have “interacted” with med-
ication for a knee injury and asthma.
Police who arrested him said Saunders
was slurring his speech and had to prop
himself up against his Audi A8 car.
Passing sentence, district judge
Nicholas Sanders told him: “ You have
shown yourself to be arrogant, think-
ing you are someone whose previous
and current role in the public eye enti-
tles you to be above the law.”
▼ Former footballer Dean Saunders
arrives at Chester magistrates court
yesterday. He was jailed for 10 weeks
PHOTOGRAPH: PETER POWELL/PA MEDIA
250
The estimated number of road
deaths in 2017 where at least one
driver or rider was over the limit
5,
The number of motorists caught
drink-driving on two or more
occasions in the past four years
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