§ Lord Hanningfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many convicted drink-drivers were under the age of 18 in each of the past five years. [HL981]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalInformation for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, from 1998 to 2002 (latest available) is given in Tables A, B and C respectively.
Table A. Total finding of guilt for offenders aged under 18 at all courts for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, England and Wales, 1998 to 2002 Offence type 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Unfit to drive drive through drink or drugs (impairment) [RTA88,s4(1)] 35 46 60 58 66 Driving with alcohol in the blood above the prescribed limit [RTA88,s5(1)(a)] 1,386 1,459 1,491 1,652 1,630 Driving and failing to provide specimen for analysis (breath, blood or urine) [RTA88,s7(6)] 112 112 131 141 152 In charge of motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment) [RTA88,s4(2)] 6 6 7 12 12 In charge of motor vehicle with alcohol in the blood above the prescribed limit [RTA88,s5(1)(b)] 27 38 30 38 38 In charge of motor vehicle and failing to provide specimen for analysis (breath, blood or urine) [RTA88,s7(6)] 5 12 9 11 14 Failing to provide specimen for initial breath test [RTA88,s6(4)] 18 16 13 12 17 Total 1,589 1,689 1,741 1,924 1,929 101WA
Table B. Drink driving offences with a charge proved for offenders aged under 18, Scotland, 1998 to 2002. Year Numbers 1998 180 1999 184 2000 163 2001 166 2002 221 Total 914
Table C. Number of persons aged under 18 convicted of drink driving offences in Northern Ireland Courts: 1998 to 2002 Offence 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Driving when unfit through drink or drugs 5 8 3 1 2 Driving with excess alcohol 0 1 0 0 0 Driving with excess alcohol in breath 11 5 12 11 10 Driving with excess alcohol in blood 2 3 2 1 2 Driving with excess alcohol in urine 0 0 0 0 1 In charge when unfit through drink or drugs 0 0 1 0 0 In charge with excess alcohol in breath 0 0 1 0 1 In charge with excess alcohol in blood 0 0 0 0 1 Failing to provide specimen of breath for preliminary test 1 2 2 0 1 Failing to provide specimen when driving unfit 0 1 2 0 1 Failing to provide specimen when driving with excess alcohol 0 0 0 2 1 Total persons aged under 18 convicted 19 20 23 15 20