Fatalities from drink-drive crashes on Britain’s roads have reached a 12-year high, new figures show.
The Department for Transport said an estimated 260 people were killed in collisions involving a driver over the alcohol limit in 2021.
That is up from 220 during the previous 12 months, and is the highest annual total since 2009, when there were 380 fatalities.
A further 1,610 people were seriously injured in drink-drive crashes in 2021.
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “These figures are extremely worrying and demonstrate that the battle against drink-driving is far from over.
“This should be a wake-up call to both the Government and police forces about the need for effective enforcement, including increased roadside breathalysing.
“Our message to drivers is simple yet stark: drink-driving ruins lives.”
The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
Nowhere else in Europe has a limit above 50mg/100ml.
The Scottish Government reduced its limit to that level in 2014.
