The latest Department for Transport drink-drive statistics released today show an increase in the number of drink-drive casualties.

• Provisional estimates for 2012 show that 290 people were killed in drink drive accidents in the Great Britain, an increase of a quarter compared with 2011.
• There was a 5 per cent decrease in seriously injured drink drive casualties in 2012 to around 1, 200.
• 220 fatal drink drive accidents in 2011 resulting in 230 deaths, the lowest number of deaths since reporting began in 1979.
• Since 1979 (when reporting began), there has been an almost six-fold reduction in the number killed in drink drive accidents.

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “The number of people killed or seriously injured by drink drivers is the real indicator of success in dealing with those who present the biggest danger on our roads.   The IAM is concerned that despite continued police campaigns the message does not seem to be getting through to a minority of drivers.”

“This increase shows the critical need for the DfT to reverse cuts in publicity funding and continue to ram home the message that drink driving kills.”