Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is illegal in the UK and the vast majority of the world’s countries, with few exceptions. Though there is general worldwide legal unanimity in viewing the act as an offence, the disparity between the countries lies in the laws that govern drink driving, which differ substantially across borders - even within the UK.

According to the European Commission, 25% of all deaths on the road in the EU are alcohol-related. Worldwide, of the estimated 1.25 million annual road deaths, 273,000 are thought to have involved at least one drunk driver.

Below, we will examine drink driving statistics around the world to see which countries are falling behind, as well as the policies that have saved lives abroad from which the UK could learn and improve its own laws, in order to reduce the rate of fatalities induced by alcohol.

The worst offenders

As reported in recent statistics on drink driving worldwide, one of the worst offending countries in the world for drink driving is South Africa. In 2019, data from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) shows that 27% of fatal road accidents are caused by drunk driving.

The worst offending countries are geographically spread out worldwide. In fact, one of these, with 38% of all road fatalities involving alcohol, neighbours the UK - Ireland. The country saw an 11% increase between 2016 and 2017 in arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. 

For the total volume of road deaths, few countries have a worse rate than the US. Every day, an estimated 28 people die in drink-driving accidents, or one every 52 minutes. Statistics from 2019 indicate a downward trend for this offence, and the year recorded the lowest in deaths since reporting began in 1982. Even still, this figure was 10,142 for the year.

Trendsetters

On the other side of the scale, some countries consistently report an impressively low rate of road deaths due to drink-driving. At the top of this list sits Sweden, which only reported 25 road deaths of drivers due to alcohol in 2018, and estimates a total of just 15 road deaths caused by alcohol in 2019. 

While the USA’s percentage of fatalities caused by drinking lies at a sizeable 31%, two countries consistently report under ten per cent: Germany and Russia. Both countries report that only 9% of deaths on the road are caused by alcohol consumption.

To tackle this offence, some countries have a policy of zero tolerance for alcohol in the driver’s system. These include Pakistan, Cuba, Indonesia, Romania, Jordan, and Nigeria. This stringent rule allows for no ambiguity - if you have consumed alcohol, you are not allowed to get behind the wheel. The results have been successful, with Romania only recording 1,164 intoxicated car drivers being involved in road traffic accidents in 2020.

How does the UK compare?

Though police in the UK do not systematically test road users killed in a road accident for alcohol, the UK has continuously reported encouraging figures. 

A 2020 study by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) showed that in 2018, in Great Britain, between 210-240 road users were killed in collisions in which a vehicle operator was over the alcohol limit. The number equates to around 13% of all road deaths for the year.

In 2019, the figure stayed at 210, while overall road accidents caused by drink-driving fell by 9% from 2018. 

In the same year, an estimated 7,800 people were either killed or injured in an accident involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit. While this is a 10% fall from 2018, which reported 8,680 fatalities and injuries, there is still more that can be done to reduce the number of road traffic accidents further.

What can we learn?

As we have seen, several countries consistently report figures indicating that the number of drink-driving offences could be reduced in the UK. 

The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood for all drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - the highest in Europe and one of the highest in the world. In Scotland, the BAC limit is 0.5g/l.

Germany, for example, has much stricter drink driving laws than the UK - in fact, only the Cayman Islands have a more lenient BAC limit at 1%. In Germany, a BAC of 0.05% can lead to a 500 Euro fine, one-month driving suspension and two points reduction on your driver’s license - for a first offence. 

Sweden takes a leading approach to the fines involved when someone is caught drink driving. Fines are calculated based on an individual’s wealth, and adjusted accordingly. Furthermore, repeat offenders have their vehicle seized and scrapped. 

As an additional safety precaution, Sweden’s government encourages the use of ignition interlocks in commercial or consumer transport of all kinds, including fleet companies, trains, and ferries. An ignition interlock device is a personal breathalyser that obliges the driver to blow into a mouthpiece, taking a BAC reading, to be able to start the ignition. Such safeguarding measures lead to only 3% of Sweden’s road fatalities involving alcohol.

How can I stay safe on the roads?

The law is in place to safeguard all those who come under its jurisdiction. The UK’s driving statistics are encouraging when compared to some countries, but more can be done to reduce the number of fatalities further. You should employ due diligence and not operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

If you have been accused of committing a motoring offence, it is essential to get specialist help from a solicitor. Call us for free on 0800 804 8159, fill in our online enquiry form, or visit our motoring offence page.