Drink drive deaths down 18%

Published: 07 August, 2008

Fatalities resulting from drink drive accidents fell by 18% in 2007, according to statistics released by the Government today.

Fatalities resulting from drink drive accidents fell by 18% in 2007, according to statistics released by the Government today.

There were 460 fatalities last year, compared to 560 in 2006, the Department for Transport said.

The number of people seriously injured in alcohol related road accidents fell 11% from 1,970 to 1,760. However slight casualties rose by 4%, from 11,840 to 12,260.

The rise in the number of minor accidents pushed the total number of drink drive accidents up 2% overall, from 9,400 to 9,620.

Transport minister Rosie Winterton said: "Drink driving ruins lives. That is why it is such good news that the number of people killed or seriously hurt in this way fell.

"Thirty years of government campaigns and enforcement work by the courts and police are having a positive effect, but we can always do more."

The total number of fatal accidents fell by 16%, although there was an overall increase of 2% in drink drive accidents.

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