A top motoring organisation has called for tougher measures to tackle drink and drug driving in a bid to improve road safety.
With Christmas less than a week away, many drivers will be meeting up with loved ones for a quick drink, putting them at risk of serious consequences if they take their car.
Rod Dennis, Road Safety Spokesperson at the RAC, warned that cases of drink driving are currently at the same level they were in the 1980s, meaning action is required to make sure motorists know the risk of getting behind the wheel while over the limit.
He explained: “Shockingly, government data shows we’re back to a similar rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving as we were in the late 1980s and that a significant number of drink-drive offences are committed by reoffenders.
“As well as support for immediate roadside bans and tougher sentences, our research reveals there is considerable backing from drivers for fitting alcolocks which stop someone over the limit from starting a car. Those who have been convicted of drink-driving need to be prevented from being able to reoffend.”
In a study conducted by the RAC, which assessed the views of 2,691 Brits, 38 percent of motorists stated that they would like harsher sentences for drink driving.
A third taking part in the survey also suggested the police should have the power to immediately disquality drink drivers at the roadside, with only the courts currently able to impose bans.
Nevertheless, a shocking 8% of those taking part in the study admitted to drink driving in the past 12 months, putting them at risk of serious consequences, including an unlimited fine, a driving ban of at least one year, and a prison sentence of up to six months.
In a bid to reduce drink driving cases, which were the cause of 300 deaths on the roads in 2022, the RAC called for a new law requiring all vehicles to be fitted with alcolocks.
Officially known as an ignition interlock device, an alcolock is a breathalyser that is directly connected to a car’s ignition system. In order to start the vehicle, drivers must take a breahalyser test and be under the drink drive limit.
Already, all new cars sold in the EU are required to have provision for owners to fit an alcolock, which are typically seen in company vehicles. Some are predicting the Government will introduce a similar law in 2025.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, stressed the devastating consequences that drink and drug driving can have, stating that the organisation will continue to back harsher restrictions.
She added: “In policing we see the damaging impact of drink and drug driving all too often and every fatality or serious injury which happens as a consequence of this is completely avoidable.
“The message of our national Christmas drink and drug driving campaign, Op Limit, is that it will not be tolerated. Alongside our current powers, we will also continue to make the case for more effective legislation which enables faster interim disqualifications for those who fail roadside tests.”
