Tougher sentences and instant roadside bans could be the most effective solutions to tackle drink-driving, according to a survey of UK motorists.
The RAC Report on Motoring 2024 polled nearly 3,000 drivers on which three options, out of eight, were the seen as the most effective to clamp down on the scourge of drink-driving.
Harsher sentences came out top, favoured by four in 10 motorists (38%).
Reducing the blood-alcohol limit for driving to zero was the second most popular, with 34% of drivers opting for that. However, road casualty data for Scotland, which reduced its drink-drive limit to a lower level than the rest of the UK back in 2014, suggests it hasn’t cut the percentage of casualties in alcohol-related collisions.
The research also found that a third of drivers (33%) would support police getting new powers to immediately disqualify drink-drivers at the roadside.
Currently, only courts can impose bans, meaning after being stopped by a police officer, a drink-driver could continue to drive until their court appearance. But chief constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for roads policing, said earlier this year that an instant ban would mean the police could “immediately take that risk off the road”.
Alcohol interlocks (‘alcolocks’) that prevent drink-drivers reoffending and more roadside breathalyser testing was selected by 32% of those questioned by the RAC, while a similar proportion (31%) want to see an increase in roadside breathalyser testing.
The RAC’s research also found the proportion of motorists who admit to drink-driving in the past 12 months has increased slightly, from 7% in 2023 to 8% this year. But this is well below the 19% which was recorded before the pandemic in both 2018 and 2019.
Levels of admitted drug-driving remain very low – despite road fatality figures indicating a rise in cases where drug-drivers were involved. Only 2% of drivers say they have driven after taking drugs – legal or illegal – that could negatively affect their performance at the wheel.
Drink-driving was responsible for the deaths of some 300 people in 2022 – back to levels last seen in the late 1980s – and a significant number of drink-drive offences are committed by reoffenders.
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.
“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.
“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: “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.”
