UK estimates for 2002 suggest that 6% of all road casualties and 16% of road deaths occurred when someone was driving while over the legal limit for alcohol. During the past ten years there has been no over-riding trend in the number killed or seriously injured despite year-to-year fluctuation. About 560 fatalities and about 2800 serious injuries are predicted for 2003.The statistics are adjusted upwards to allow for cases where definite proof of the involvement of drink in an accident could not be obtained. UK blood and breath testing powers, data sources, the completeness of data and the reliability of estimates are discussed. Motorcycle fatalities have recently shown lower rates of illegal alcohol use than in the early 1990s. Car and other motor vehicle driver fatalities have shown an increase in illegal alcohol use, particularly for young drivers. The winter months generally had lower numbers of drink drive accidents and casualties than other months of the year. Male drivers under 25 years of age had the highest incidence of failing a breath test after being involved in a personal injury road accident. Women are much less likely to be involved in drink drive accidents than men. About 900 casualties in drink drive accidents were pedestrians or cyclists. About half of drivers killed between 2200h and 0400h were over the legal alcohol limit.
Samenvatting