Accidents caused by drink driving increased by a quarter last year. Figures published by the Department for Transport on Thursday show there were 290 people killed in drink related accidents in Great Britain in 2012, up from 230 the year before.

But on a more positive note the number of people killed on the roads in the year to March 2013 fell by 10% to 1680. The total number of casualties fell by 7% to just under 189,000.

The increase in drink driving accidents is a worry and could be due partly to reductions in traffic police numbers, according to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. “If motorists see fewer police on the roads a minority might be temped to drink and drive,” said the council’s executive director David Davies. “There needs to be a continued focus on tackling drink driving and having adequate roads policing.”

The Institute of Advanced Motorists’ director Neil Greig added: “This increase shows the need for the DfT to reverse cuts in publicity funding and continue to ram home the message that drink driving kills.”

A DfT spokesman said: “Just because budgets have decreased doesn’t mean drink drive campaigns are less effective. We are not planning to run any campaigns on television this financial year but we are doing more on radio and continue with advertisements in pub toilets.”

(Photo: West Midlands Police)

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