Drinking and Driving

HC Deb 28 November 1988 vol 142 c157W

30. Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the campaign against drinking and driving.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Although the campaign is going well, there must be no let-up.

Last year there were 1,400 alcohol-related road deaths: a quarter of all road deaths. Twenty-three per cent. of drivers and riders killed in 1987 were over the legal limit compared with 33 per cent. in 1978.

Surveys suggest that for the first time there are fewer than one million drink/drive occasions a week. This is about half the estimate for 1987.

Recent major campaign successes include: promotion of low and non-alcoholic beers by the brewers. These beers are now the fastest growing sector of the drinks industry. the public endorsement of our campaigns by the Licensed Victuallers Association and the not-for-profit clubs. the active participation of major football clubs in getting the message across to fans. the media now treat drinking and driving as a major news topic, and one worthy of serious current affairs coverage.

We shall be launching this year's Christmas campaign on 5 December.

The problem exists all the year round. It needs constant publicity.