Drink-drive deaths have fallen – but campaigners warn ‘we must do more’
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The latest Department for Transport (DfT) figures show drink-drive deaths fell in 2024, but road safety campaigners say hundreds of lives are still being lost to a crime that’s entirely preventable.
Deaths caused by drink-driving fell by 16% in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT). Despite this progress, road safety groups say the government must act faster to stop repeat offenders, warning that around four people are still killed or seriously injured by drink-drivers every day.
An estimated 220 people were killed in reported drink-drive collisions across Great Britain in 2024, down from the previous year and the lowest total seen in the last three years.
While the fall has been welcomed, campaigners say stronger measures are needed to prevent offenders from getting behind the wheel.
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What does the data show?
The figures show:
- An estimated 220 people were killed in drink-drive collisions in 2024, down 16% compared with 2023.
- Around 1,520 people were seriously injured, a 6% fall year-on-year.
- There were approximately 6,350 drink-drive casualties of all severities, little changed from the previous year.
- Police recorded around 4,360 drink-drive collisions during the year.
Despite the improvement in fatalities, the DfT figures show that the proportion of all reported road casualties linked to drink-driving has increased over the past decade.
Drink-driving was involved in around 14% of all reported road fatalities in 2024, while drink-drive collisions accounted for 4% of all reported crashes.
Although overall drink-driving casualties have fallen by around 22% over the past decade, the latest figures suggest progress has slowed, with the number of people killed or seriously injured broadly unchanged compared with 10 years ago.
Here’s a breakdown of all drink-drive incidents recorded in 2024. Casualty figures include everyone injured or killed, with those killed or seriously injured (KSI) including fatalities. The “proportion of all reported collisions” shows how many drink-drive collisions or casualties made up the total number of officially reported road traffic collisions recorded by the authorities.
| Drink-drive collisions | Drink-drive casualties | Drink-drive KSIs | Drink-drive fatalities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number in 2024 | 4,360 | 6,350 | 1,740 | 220 |
| Change since 2023 | -1% | 1% | -6% | -16% |
| Change since 2014 | -22% | -22% | -0% | -8% |
| As a proportion of those in all reported collisions | 4% | 5% | 6% | 14% |
A DfT spokesperson told Carwow: “Great Britain remains among the safest countries in the world for road safety. However, any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many.
“That’s why our first Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade, sets out to reduce deaths and serious injuries, including consulting on tougher drink-driving measures.
“Our THINK! campaign also encourages safer choices behind the wheel, and we continue to work closely with police and road safety partners.”
Safety campaigners say more needs to be done
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said the figures should serve as a “clear wake-up call to policymakers”.
He said: “The estimated number of people killed or seriously injured by drink-drivers may have dropped slightly year-on-year, but it’s a different picture over the last 10 years; little has changed and we must redouble our efforts to tackle this crime that wrecks so many lives.”
Williams added that while estimated fatalities have fallen, drink-driving is responsible for an increasing share of serious road collisions and said some offenders continue to reoffend despite existing driving bans.
The RAC is backing calls for the government to introduce alcohol interlocks for high-risk offenders. This technology requires drivers to give a breath sample before a car will start and prevents the engine from starting if alcohol is detected above the legal limit.
The Lock Out Drink Driving Campaign also said the latest figures highlight the need for urgent action.
It said: “Any reduction in drink-drive deaths is welcome, but 220 lives lost in a single year remains an appalling and entirely preventable toll. Behind every number is a family grieving and a community living with the lasting consequences of someone choosing to drive while impaired.
“For far too long, drink-driving has remained a stubborn stain on Britain’s roads, despite being one of the most preventable causes of death and serious injury. It’s time to turn words into action and for the government to embrace practical, evidence-led measures that can stop an impaired driver before they put the key in the ignition.”
The campaign said alcohol interlocks could provide a “final line of defence” by preventing an impaired driver from starting the vehicle. It also urged ministers to publish their response to the government’s road safety consultation and set out plans for introducing the tech.
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