Grim map reveals Britain’s drink-drive hotspots where most boozy drivers are caught – is your region on the list?
BRITAIN’S drink-driving hotspots, where the most boozy motorists get convicted for being over the limit, have been revealed.
A recent Freedom of Information request to the DVLA has shown the areas with the highest conviction rates, with Northampton topping the list.
Across the region, which reportedly has more than 511,000 registered drivers, 687 were caught over the limit, translating to 13.4 per 10,000 full licence holders.
In second place was Llandudno in Wales, with Nottingham, Sunderland, and Teesside making up the top five.
This comes as the RAC revealed Brits are calling for tougher sentences to combat drink-driving.
Indeed, 38% of drivers believe stricter penalties are key to reducing such incidents, which were responsible for some 300 deaths in 2022.
Additionally, 34% of drivers favour lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit to zero, while 33% support giving police the authority to immediately disqualify drink-drivers at the roadside.
At present, only courts have the power to impose driving bans, meaning a drink-driver can continue driving until their court appearance.
The RAC research further revealed that 32% of respondents support the installation of interlocks, or ‘alcolocks’, in vehicles to prevent driving with alcohol in their system, while a similar number of 31% call for more frequent roadside breathalyser tests.
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “It’s clear motorists want to see something done differently to tackle the scourge of drink-driving, which is still responsible for the loss of far too many lives every year.
“Shockingly, government data shows we’re back to a similar rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving as we were in the late 1980s, and that a significant number of drink-drive offences are committed by reoffenders.
“As well as support for immediate roadside bans and tougher sentences, our research reveals considerable backing from drivers for fitting alcolocks which stop someone over the limit from starting a car.
“Those who have been convicted of drink-driving need to be prevented from reoffending. Enforcement is also key, as drivers need to know there is a good chance of being caught if they decide to drive after drinking too much.”
This comes as a new report suggested the drink-drive limit could be reduced for the first time in 60 years, with newly qualified drivers facing even harsher punishments.
New rules could see motorists judged as being over the drink-driving limit after just one pint, if the government takes on board police chiefs’ calls for changes to the law.
The current limit, which was set in 1967, stands at 80 milligrams per 100ml of blood—roughly the equivalent of two pints of lager.
However, campaigners are now calling for the limit to be lowered, claiming that the number of drink-driving deaths has risen to 18 per cent of all road fatalities, according to new figures.
As a result, campaigners want to reduce the limit in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to 50mg per 100ml of blood—roughly one pint of medium-strength beer.