Drink-driving deaths increase

Calls for lower drink-driving limits and greater efforts to protect child pedestrians have been made following the publication of the latest accident statistics by the Government today.

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Calls for lower drink-driving limits and greater efforts to protect child pedestrians have been made following the publication of the latest accident statistics by the Government today.

The detailed figures show drink-driving deaths stood at their highest level for seven years in 2003, with 560 deaths.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) renewed its call for the legal drink-driving limit in the UK to be lowered in line with the majority of Europe, reckoning the drop from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood would save 50 lives each year.

Head of road safety at RoSPA Kevin Clinton said: ‘We believe there would be wide public support for this and are frustrated that the Government continues to oppose a measure which would save lives.’

The Department for Transport (DfT) believes tighter enforcement of the current limit would be more effective, arguing that those who ignore existing levels would continue to flout stricter laws.

Road safety charity Brake also points out that, while child deaths fell by 4% overall, the number of eight to 19-year-olds being killed on foot rose sharply by 26% to 110.

The group says deaths of child pedestrians continue to compare very poorly with other European countries and called for more measures to slow drivers down, such as safety zones around homes and schools, more 20mph limits and the increased use of speed cameras.

Road accidents are the leading cause of death amongst children aged 11 to 16-years-old because they start to travel independently of their parents on foot or by bicycle.

The detailed statistics released today follow general figures published earlier in the year, which showed that overall deaths on UK roads rose by 2% in 2003 to 3508. This was the first time for six years the number had exceeded 3500.

The DfT is piloting 60 Home Zones around the UK. The zones are residential streets where safety measures are being introduced, such as lower speed limits, street furniture to slow drivers down, and more pedestrian crossings.

The Government is also testing a new scheme which breathalyses convicted drink drivers each time they use their car, after their ban has ended.

For more information on Home Zones, visit the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk