Car crash news
03/12/2009

Drink or drugs involved in one-third of car crash deaths

Figures released for Road Safety Week 2009 suggest that around one in six car crash deaths involves a driver who is over the alcohol limit, with similar figures for drivers who have been taking drugs.

According to the charity Brake, this means about 880 deaths out of 2008's UK-wide total of 2,645 could have been caused by drivers whose abilities were compromised by the effects of drink or drugs.

It says the influence of drugs on a driver's judgement is under-reported and may be more prevalent in vehicle accidents than recognised or recorded at present. This includes road crashes where the driver has been taking a prescription medicine as well as those involving motorists or motor cyclists who have been using illegal substances.

Official total numbers of deaths and injuries caused in road traffic accidents have been dropping for a number of years but many experts believe these are inaccurate because they are only personal injury incidents reported by the police and do not include car crash victims who go directly for treatment at hospitals or surgeries.