HC Deb 18 October 1993 vol 230 cc144-5W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate changes in the incidence of drink driving, over the limit drink driving and deaths associated with over the limit drink driving since 1979.

Mr. Maclean

The information available relates to the incidence of drink driving when a driver is over the prescribed alcohol limit.

Estimates of fatal casualties involving illegal alcohol levels are published by the Department of Transport. The table give the number of positive or refused breath tests and revised estimates of the number of fatal casualties in accidents involving illegal alcohol levels:

Positive/Refused Breath tests England and Wales (Thousands) Fatal casualties Great Britain1 (Numbers)
1979 84.4 1,640
1980 89.2 1,450
1981 80.6 1,420
1982 88.6 1,550
1983 98.4 1,110
1984 87.6 1,170
1985 95.7 1,040
1986 97.8 990
1987 111.4 900
1988 111.7 790
1989 108.0 810
1990 102.4 760
1991 90.3 660
1992 87.1 2610
1 Department of Transport figures
1 Provisional