10 per cent increase in drink-drive casualties – IAS condemns Government’s record
The IAS today accused the Government of shameful neglect of
the drink-drive problem, and of caving in to vested interests. The
comments were prompted by the release of figures showing that, despite a
fall in the overall number of deaths and injuries in 2000, casualties
from drink driving rose by around 10 per cent, to their highest level
for 10 years.
The IAS said:
“The Government, which took office promising so much has
delivered nothing. It promised it would introduce a package of measures
to reduce casualties, centered around a lower legal alcohol limit for
driving. But it has clearly surrendered to pressure from the alcohol
industry and the national campaign against drink driving is being
allowed to peter out. The result is that the improvement in casualties
is now being reversed, and the number of dead and injured is climbing
again. The Government’s weakness and neglect is now costing peoples’
lives.”
The IAS called on the Government to ensure that the 2000
figures are no more than an unwelcome blip by doing what it promised it
would do when it first took office and lower the legal alcohol limit to
50mg% – the level of most other European Union countries – and ensure
that this lower limit is properly enforced.
Note
Road Accidents Great Britain: The Casualty Report 2000 (DTLR)
shows that in 2000, drink drive casualties of all severities rose by
around 10 per cent to over 18,000, the highest figure since 1990.