The Department for Transport (DfT) has published a new round of road accident statistics. The newly released data provide estimates for collisions and casualties for the year 2022, where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. This follows the publication of provisional statistics for reported road casualties for the year 2023 in May.  

DfT publishes annual road casualty statistics twice a year, beginning with provisional statistics in May and later more detailed final statistics in September. Separately, reported drink-drive related collisions and casualties are published annually in July. 

The official statistics suggest that fatalities for 2022 have reached the highest level seen since 2009, which is also an increase compared to 2021. It is believed that between 290 and 320 people were killed in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the legal drinking limit. This has led to a central estimate of 300, which accounts for around 18% of all deaths in reported road collisions in 2022.  

The latest release adds to growing concerns around trends in UK road safety performance. In the UK, reductions in the number of people killed or seriously injured have slowed markedly since 2010. While the UK does not have official road safety targets, it has made a commitment to halving road deaths by 2030 through its membership to the UN.  

An estimated 6,800 people were killed or seriously injured in drink-drive related crashes in 2022, compared to 6,740 in 2021. These numbers raise questions around trends in road user behaviour and whether current approaches are providing the most efficient solutions to the UK’s stagnating road safety performance.  

In 2019, the UK government had committed to a new road safety strategy, drawing on safe system practices. However, since then an entire parliamentary cycle has passed without publication of a new framework.  

CIHT believes that everyone should have the ability to travel safely. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) recently published its Manifesto for Road Safety, which CIHT supported. In addition, CIHT is investigating Safe System implementation in the UK.