Policy Document
Details
Citation
Uny I (2021) PACTS Drink Driving ¨C Taking stock, moving forward Report. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. https://www.pacts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/PACTS-Drink-Driving-Taking-stock-moving-forward-Report-6.0.pdf: The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.
Abstract
The UK¡¯s system to prevent drink driving is no longer adequate, according to a report from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), which calls for a comprehensive review.
Drink Driving ¨C Taking Stock, Moving Forward is produced by PACTS in association with ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã and University of Dundee says:.
Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of road deaths (13%)
In the last decade 240 people have been killed each year where a driver was over the limit
17% of drink drive offences are committed by a reoffender
A significant number of reoffenders have alcohol and mental health issues and the coronavirus pandemic has seen an increase in the number of people with such issues
Levels of police enforcement have decreased by 63% since 2009 and there are indications that drivers believe they are less likely to be caught
The PACTS report shows the problem is more complex and needs a broader approach, combining improved enforcement, health measures and alternative transport provision.
There are clear weaknesses in the current system.
The study includes 30 in-depth interviews with drink drivers, showing the complex mental health and alcohol problems that some of them suffer. As a result, current arrangements are not enough to help them or to deter them from drink driving again. The Covid pandemic is likely to have worsened the risks as alcohol consumption, mental health pressures and traffic speeds have all increased, as other countries have reported increases in road deaths during lockdown periods, partly due to drink driving.
Drink drivers are also more likely to have a criminal record than the general driving population and according to Government data, reoffending is a major concern:
Since 2010,
32,025 people committed a drink drive offence with a previous drink/drug drive offence on their record ¨C 7% of those people who committed a drink/drug drive offence
107,913 drink drive offences were committed by someone with a previous drink/drug driving offence on their record ¨C 17% of drink/drug drive offences
Eight people were convicted of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink/with alcohol level above the limit with a previous drink/drug offence on their record.
One driver was charged with driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above the limit with 8 previous drink/drug drive offences on their record. One person committed the offence ¡®driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit¡¯ when they had 18 previous drink- and drug-driving offences.
The police are also increasingly detecting drivers who have combined drink and drugs, which can be dangerous at levels below the current breath test limit.
The PACTS report recommends:
mandatory breath testing powers for the police and the reduction in enforcement levels to be reversed
increased penalties for drivers who combine drink and drugs
specialist rehabilitation courses for those with mental health and alcohol problems
a lower breath test limit for England and Wales
reforming the High Risk Offender Scheme
that the Government pays more attention to drink driving in alcohol harm and night-time economy policies
| Status | Published |
|---|---|
| Funders | |
| Publication date | 31/01/2021 |
| Publication date online | 31/01/2021 |
| Publisher | The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety |
| Place of publication | https://www.pacts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/PACTS-Drink-Driving-Taking-stock-moving-forward-Report-6.0.pdf |
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