Police increase roadside breath tests after drink-drive death rise

Roadside breath tests have increased year-on-year following an increase in deaths caused by drunk drivers.

Police in England and Wales breathalysed 249,542 motorists in 2022 – an increase of 8% compared with the previous year – according to new data from the Home Office.

Almost one-in-five (17%) of drivers were over the limit – similar to the previous two years.

The new data comes after figures published last year showed there were an estimated 260 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2021 where a motorist was over the drink drive limit – an 18% year-on-year increase and the highest since 2009. 

The drink-drive data also showed that 6,740 people were injured in drink drive accidents, up 4%.

“We’re pleased to see an increase in the number of dedicated road policing officers, which has resulted in stricter enforcement,” said Hunter Abbott, managing director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense.  

“Home Office figures show there were 3,960 traffic officers by March 2023 – up 2% on the previous year.

“However, our testing levels still lag way behind other European countries.  In England & Wales just five tests per 1,000 inhabitants are carried out.

“In Ireland the figure is 18 per 1,000 population, whilst in France it’s 109."

Other reasons for the increase in breathalyser tests in 2022 include traffic returning to normal levels following the Covid lockdown restrictions and the football World Cup in November and December.

Research shows that, at the current drink drive limit in England and Wales, you are 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than when sober.