Christmas 2010 was the coldest on record with temperatures of minus 18 C recorded in the Highlands of Scotland and an average temperature for December of minus 0.8 C in England. Heavy snow both in 2009 and 2010 ensured many Christmas office parties were cancelled or attended only by those who could walk to them.
Figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers showed a 13% reduction in the number of drink drive arrests over the 2010 festive period. However 24% fewer breath tests were carried out by police forces mainly due to the bad weather.
This year, with milder weather, the office party season is well underway again. With this it is feared that we will see an increase in drink driving and the record low drink drive causalities could be set to rise again.
A poll carried out by the AA showed that 25% think they may be pressured into drinking more alcohol than they want by other people. With 14% citing work colleagues as those most likely to lead them astray office parties and post-work celebrations are a huge cause for concern. It is the younger, more inexperienced drivers who are most influenced by friends to have ‘just one more’.
Which of the following groups is most likely to encourage you to drink ‘just one more’ when you are intending to drive?
|
All respondents |
18-24 year olds |
|
|
Work colleagues |
14% |
13% |
|
Friends |
9% |
28% |
|
Family |
1% |
3% |
|
None of the above |
75% |
56% |
The Survey also asked: In the last three years have you travelled in a car when you felt the driver was over the legal drink drive limit?
Nationally – 5% said yes
London – 8%
North East, Scotland, Wales – 3%
18-24 year olds – 16%
Over 65s – 3%
Edmund King, AA President, said: “With driving to Christmas events a thing of the past for many, and a novelty for many newer drivers, we all need to be taking responsibility for each other this Christmas.
“Employers and party organisers need to make sure there are adequate soft drinks available at events, and should be encouraging partygoers to make arrangements for getting home before they set out.
“Parents need to check how their teenagers are getting around and warn them never to get into a car with a drink driver. Fellow party goers must not put pressure on those who are driving. It is frightening that one and a half million people may have got a lift with a drink driver in the last three years.”
Drink drive fact-file
- Drink drive fatalities account for 13.5% of all road accident fatalities
- In 2010, 9,700 reported casualties occurred as a result of a drunk driver
- In 2008 there were around 410 pedestrian casualties and 90 pedal cyclist casualties in accidents with a driver over the legal alcohol limit
- Those aged between 17-24 are more likely to have a drink driving related accident per mile driven
- Overall, 2.4 % of men involved in an accident failed a breath test in 2010 – well over twice the rate of women
