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More drink deaths
Page 19
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SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS have renewed calls for a reduction in the UK drink-drive limit after government figures showed a 6% increase in drink-drive deaths over the past year.
The Department for Transport's report Road Casualties Great Britain 2002 reveals that 560 people were killed last year in alcohol-related road accidents; up from 530 in 2001.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Brake and Association of Chief Police Officers all want the alcohol limit of 80mg/100m1 of blood cut to 50mg/100m1, in line with most other European Union states.
Kevin Clinton. RoSPA's head of road safety says a reduction could save 50 lives and prevent hundreds of injuries on the UK's roads each year:"At levels between 50mg and 80mg drivers are between twice and four times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than drivers with no alcohol. We are now one of only four countries out of 15 in the EU with a level above 50mg. Police also have to be given powers to breath test drivers anywhere and at any time".
The DfT says the UK already has some of the toughest penalties for drink-driving in Europe.
Overall, the number of people killed on Britain's roads fell by 1% last year to 3.431; serious injuries dropped by 3% to 35,976. The total number of casualties, which includes deaths, serious and slight injuries, stood at 302,605; down 3% on the previous year.