The latest police data on drink driving offences has been made available to the public following a Freedom of Information Request.
The worrying statistics show that driving while under the influence of alcohol is still a serious issue on UK roads. Between December 2021 and November 2024, 100,578 offences were recorded in the UK, with over 33,000 of these occurring in the last year alone. The three regions with the most recorded offences were London, Northern Ireland and the West Midlands.
The alcohol limit in Scotland is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, whereas in the rest of the UK the limit is 80 milligrams. In spite of the stricter limit, Scotland continues to have a significant problem with drink driving. The recent statistics may indicate that lowering the alcohol limit has not had enough of an impact on road safety.
Cheshire Police recorded 3,160 arrests for drink driving in the same period, with 80% of these resulting in a charge. Chief Superintendent Jon Betts of Cheshire Police launched a campaign at the start of December last year to raise awareness of the dangers, saying:
“We want people to see our campaign and think before they act… I want to reassure the public that our efforts to keeping the county safe continues and we will do all we can to prevent and disrupt crime occurring in Cheshire.”
Drivers who find themselves accused of driving offences under various circumstances may require the support of expert dangerous driving solicitors to ensure they receive the fair legal treatment they deserve.