Tougher penalties backed by motorists as solution to drink-driving crisis
New research from the RAC reveals that tougher penalties are the most favoured solution among UK motorists for addressing drink-driving. The findings come as road safety concerns grow, with drink-driving implicated in the deaths of around 300 people in 2022.
According to the RAC Report on Motoring 2024, 38% of drivers identified harsher sentences as the best measure to tackle the issue. The second most popular option, reducing the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers to zero, was supported by 34%. This was closely followed by calls for increased police powers and other preventative measures.
One-third of respondents backed a proposal to allow police officers to immediately disqualify drink-drivers at the roadside. This change, advocated by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for roads policing, could prevent offenders from continuing to drive while awaiting court hearings.
Alcohol interlocks, or ‘alcolocks,’ were favoured by 32% of respondents. These devices prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has consumed alcohol. A similar proportion (31%) supported increasing the frequency of roadside breathalyser tests as a deterrent.
The RAC’s data also shows a slight increase in self-reported drink-driving incidents, rising from 7% in 2023 to 8% this year. However, this remains significantly lower than the 19% recorded in 2018 and 2019, before the pandemic.
Drug-driving, though less common, remains a concern. Fatality statistics show an increase in drug-driving incidents, yet only 2% of motorists admit to driving after consuming substances, whether legal or illegal, that could impair performance.
Motorists widely support stricter measures for tackling drug-driving. Nearly two-thirds (64%) favour harsher penalties for offenders, while 56% want expanded roadside testing. Just under half (49%) back immediate roadside disqualifications for drug-drivers.
These findings suggest a strong appetite for decisive action to improve road safety, particularly through stronger enforcement and preventative technology.
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “It’s clear motorists want to see something done differently to tackle the scourge of drink-driving which is still responsible for the loss of far too many lives every year.
“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. Enforcement is also key as drivers need to know there is a good chance of being caught if they decide to drive after drinking too much.
“The idea of reducing the legal drink-drive limit – an idea supported by a third of drivers we surveyed – may not alone be the answer. Road casualty data for Scotland, which reduced its drink-drive limit to a lower level than the rest of the UK 10 years ago (5 December 2014), suggests it hasn’t cut the percentage of casualties in alcohol-related collisions.
“We hope the issue of drink-driving will be addressed in the Government’s soon-to-be-published road safety strategy as clamping down on it in the right way could save hundreds of lives every year.”
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “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. This will remove risk from our roads and reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured by those who are repeatedly criminally irresponsible. If someone has made the decision to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, we must be able to take swift and robust action to stop them doing so again.
“Driving under the influence of drink or drugs puts everyone at risk – individuals, families, businesses and whole communities. Together we must do everything we can to put a stop to this irresponsible and incredibly dangerous behaviour.”
