20 Jan 2015
Younger drivers still need to take heed of drink-drive dangers
Younger drivers remain proportionately more likely than their over-25 counterparts to fail a breath-test for driving under the influence, the UK’s national lead for roads policing has said.
Chief Constable Suzette Davenport was speaking as she released the national figures for the December 2014 anti-drink-and-drug-driving campaign, run by forces under the auspices of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
This year, a more intelligence-led approach by officers resulted in a reduction in the number of tests this year, down to 133,996, but a higher failure rate by percentage, with 5885, or 4.39%, failing breath tests.
Among these, 28,228 under-25s were tested, with a 6.33% failure rate, compared to over-25s, where 4042, or 3.94% failed.
Chief Constable Davenport said: “The use of an intelligence-led approach by officers may give the impression of members of the public not taking seriously the consequences of driving under the influence, but I am confident that our messages on the topic are getting through.
“Instead, targeted testing is helping officers to pick up on offending in a more efficient way.
“Younger drivers, who are balancing the development of their skills and responsibilities as drivers with the natural enjoyments and explorations of their formative years as adults, are, unsurprisingly, more likely to take risks, but our message is very simple and very clear – you are breaking the law, you are risking your life and the lives of those around you and the consequences of doing so will plague you for the rest of your life. Do not drive under the influence – it is not worth the risk and you will be caught.
“That message is not just for younger drivers, though – it is for all those who get behind the wheel. You do not have to stop enjoying yourself to take your responsibilities seriously, but please – if you drink, do not drive.
“I will be looking very carefully at these figures and discussing them with colleagues around the police service, as well as with government and partner agencies so that, between us, we can ensure that we have the best possible regime of advice and enforcement needed to keep our roads safe from those who recklessly drive while intoxicated.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- CC Davenport’s availability for interview will be checked but cannot be guaranteed
- ACPO only issues national figures and does not provide a force-by-force breakdown
- At the time of publication, all forces had submitted their returns with the exception of City of London Police. As previous years indicated a low rate of testing within the Square Mile, which is to be expected given its size and population, particularly at nights and at weekends, we have published the figures without their contribution as it is unlikely to affect the general statistical trend.
- National figures are as follows:
|
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Total breath tests administered NOT involving collisions |
131588 |
149287 |
161496 |
110037 |
|
Total of those that were positive, refused or failed |
5395 |
5161 |
4841 |
4106 |
|
% of total tested that were positive, failed or refused |
4.1 |
3.46 |
3 |
3.73 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total breath tests administered FOLLOWING collisions |
24981 |
26544 |
29974 |
23959 |
|
Total of those that were positive, refused or failed |
1729 |
1962 |
1709 |
1779 |
|
% of total tested that were positive, failed or refused |
6.92 |
7.39 |
5.70 |
7.43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of collisions recorded |
24586 |
29248 |
27551 |
27590 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of breath tests administered to UNDER 25s |
36227 |
37402 |
37940 |
28228 |
|
Total of those that were positive, refused or failed |
2074 |
1970 |
1675 |
1788 |
|
% of total tested that were positive, failed or refused |
5.73 |
5.27 |
4.41 |
6.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of breath tests administered to 25 YEARS AND OVER |
118119 |
137617 |
139550 |
102555 |
|
Total of those that were positive, refused or failed |
4783 |
4668 |
4482 |
4042 |
|
% of total tested that were positive, failed or refused |
4.05 |
3.39 |
3.21 |
3.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of FIELD IMPAIRMENT TESTS conducted |
540 |
360 |
513 |
335 |
|
Total of those that resulted in a Section 4 arrest |
91 |
77 |
143 |
78 |
|
% of total tested that resulted in a Section 4 arrest |
16.85 |
21.39 |
27.88 |
23.28 |
|
Total number of Sec 4 arrests NOT following a FIT test |
818 |
799 |
690 |
1232 |
|
Total number of Sec 4 arrests following a collision |
247 |
336 |
182 |
363 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL BREATH TESTS ADMINISTERED |
156569 |
175831 |
191040 |
133996 |
|
TOTAL OF THOSE THAT WERE POSITIVE, FAILED OR REFUSED |
7124 |
7123 |
6550 |
5885 |
|
% OF TOTAL TESTED THAT WERE POSITIVE, FAILED OR REFUSED |
4.55 |
4.05 |
3.42 |
4.39 |
Contact information
Communications office
By phone: 0800 538 5058
By email: press.office@npcc.police.uk