Alcohol-related road accident statistics – AA response
- ‘Bitter disappointment’ with worse teenage driver figures
Responding to today’s Department for Transport statistics, ‘Reported road casualties in Great Britain: Estimates for accidents involving illegal alcohol levels: 2016 (final)’, the AA comments:
“There is a perception out on UK roads that there are fewer police patrolling and that the chance of being caught for drink-driving and other motoring offences are slim. These latest alcohol-related accident figures reinforce that worry.
An AA Populus survey of 19,500 drivers in December found that 36% thought that there was a low to remote possibility of being caught for drink-driving. This is bad news for road safety,” says Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of road policy.
“AA analysis of today’s statistics raise the stakes even higher because the age groups who seem to be getting worse are the youngest and the oldest*. Although drivers aged 60 years or older will include a persistent group of hardcore drink-drivers who have always done it, we are bitterly disappointed that our youngest drivers seem to be going backwards in appreciating the dangers. Previously, they were the ones who seemed to get the message.
“December was the highest month for drink-drive accidents and casualties**, suggesting drivers are giving way to temptation when there is cause to let themselves go, such as Christmas or parties.”
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