Drink Driving Statistics

Between 1979 and 2014

An average of 666 people were killed in drink driving related accidents in Great Britain each year.

An average of 3,551 people were seriously injured in drink driving related accidents in Great Britain each year.

Approximately 85,000 people are convicted of drink driving related offences each and every year in England and Wales alone.

The majority of those convicted are male (approximately 85%).

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DRINK DRIVING CASUALTY STATISTICS (1979 - 2014)

The following casualty estimated statistics include people who were killed, seriously injured of slightly injured in drink drive accidents in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) between 1979 and 2014.

Information sources to create the statistics include the police force, hospitals, death registrations and coroner's reports.

DRINK DRIVING CONVICTIONS (2005 - 2015)

The following statistical information on drink driving related offences applies to convictions in England and Wales, UK only.

• Drink Driving Statistics
  (driving with alcohol level exceeding legal limit)
• Fail to Provide a Specimen While Driving Statistics
• In Charge Statistics
  (in charge of a vehicle with alcohol level exceeding legal limit)
• Fail to Provide a Specimen While In Charge of a Vehicle Statistics

The figures in the tables below represent defendants who were convicted of that particular offence as the principal offence dealt with at court. The figures may be lower than the total number of people convicted of a particular offence in a given year as they do not include data where defendants were convicted of two or more offences where the other offence attracted a heavier penalty.

* Where the total number of convictions in a particular year does not tally with the number of males convicted plus the number of females convicted it means that there was a certain number of convictions counted towards the total where the sex of the defendant was not available when compiling the statistics.

Drink Driving Conviction Statistics (2005 - 2015)

A total of 613,090 people were charged with drink driving during this period. Statistics show that 595,093 (97%) of defendants charged were subsequently convicted while 17,997 (3%) were not convicted.

Convictions under S.5(1)(a) of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Driving a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit) [1]

Between the years 2005 and 2015:

An average of 54,099 people were convicted of driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while over the legal limit each year.

Out of the total number of people convicted of drink driving between 2005 and 2015:

• The majority of convicted drink drivers were male (84%) compared to female (16%)
• 76% of defendants received a fine
• 16% of defendants received a community order
• 3% of defendants received a suspended sentence
• 2% of defendants were sentenced to immediate custody
• 0.5% of defendants received a conditional discharge
• 0.2% of defendants received an absolute discharge

Prison Sentence

Out of the 5% of defendants that received a custodial sentence (suspended or otherwise):

• 6488 offenders received a custodial sentence of up to and including 3 months
• 5385 offenders received a custodial sentence of over 3 months and up to 6 months
• 226 offenders received a custodial sentence of 6 months
• 3 offenders received a custodial sentence of over 6 months but less than 12 months

Fines

Out of the 76% of defendants that received a fine:

• 400 had to pay a fine of up to and including £25
• 5292 had to pay a fine over £25 and up to £50
• 77,757 had to pay a fine over £50 and up to £100
• 82,320 had to pay a fine over £100 and up to £150
• 78,700 had to pay a fine over £150 and up to £200
• 58,341 had to pay a fine over £200 and up to £250
• 52,747 had to pay a fine over £250 and up to £300
• 78,583 had to pay a fine over £300 and up to £500
• 13,619 had to pay a fine over £500 and up to £750
• 4653 had to pay a fine over £750 and up to £1,000
• 2071 had to pay a fine over £1,000 and up to £2,500
• 205 had to pay a fine over £2,500 and up to £5,000

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Failing to Provide Specimen for Analysis While Driving (2005 - 2015)

A total of 61,712 people were charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis while driving a motor vehicle during this period. Statistics show that 55,812 (90%) of defendants charged were subsequently convicted while 5,900 (10%) were not convicted.

Convictions under S.7(6) of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Failing to Provide an Evidential Specimen of Breath, Blood or Urine) while driving [1]

Between the years 2005 and 2015:

An average of 5,073 people were convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis while driving each year.

Out of the total number of people convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis while driving between 2005 and 2015:

• The majority of those convicted were male (85%), compared to female (15%)
• 63% of those convicted received a fine
• 22.5% of those convicted received a community order
• 6% of those convicted received a suspended custodial sentence
• nearly 5% of those convicted received an immediate custodial sentence
• just over 1% received a conditional discharge

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In Charge of a Vehicle While Over the Legal Limit (2005 - 2015)

A total of 20,434 people were charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the legal limit during this period. Statistics show that 15,454 (76%) of defendants charged were subsequently convicted while 4,980 (24%) were not convicted.

Convictions under S.5(1)(b) of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit) [1]

Between the years 2005 and 2015:

An average of 1,405 people were convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place each year while over the legal limit.

Out of the total number of people convicted of being in charge of a motor vehicle while over the legal limit between 2005 and 2015:

• The majority of those convicted were male (86%), compared to female (13%)
• 81% of those convicted received a fine
• 13% of those convicted received a community order
• nearly 2% of those convicted received a suspended custodial sentence
• 1.5% of those convicted received an immediate custodial sentence
• just over 1% received a conditional discharge
• the remaining were otherwise dealt with

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Fail To Provide Specimen for Analysis while in Charge of a Motor Vehicle (2005 - 2015)

A total of 7,481 people were charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis while in charge of a motor vehicle during this period. Statistics show that 6,678 (89%) of defendants charged were subsequently convicted while 803 (11%) were not convicted.

Convictions under S.7(6) of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Failing to Provide an Evidential Specimen of Breath, Blood or Urine) while in charge of a motor vehicle [1]

Between the years 2005 and 2015:

An average of 871 people were convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis while being in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place each year.

Out of the total number of people convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis while being in charge of a motor vehicle between 2005 and 2015:

• The majority of those convicted were male (85%), compared to female (15%)
• 71% of those convicted received a fine
• 19% of those convicted received a community order
• 3% of those convicted received an immediate prison sentence
• 3% of those convicted received a suspended prison sentence
• nearly 2% of those convicted received a conditional discharge
• the remaining were otherwise dealt with

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Last Updated: February 15 2021

Sources:

Ministry of Justice Statistics

Reference: