Drink and drug driving remains one of the fatal four for Avon and Somerset Police

DVLA stats show hundreds of people have been caught drink-driving at least four times.

Author: Lauren WattPublished 3rd Oct 2024

Hundreds of people have been caught drink-driving at least four times, sparking calls for ministers to consider forcing reoffenders to have breathalysers fitted to their cars.

Official figures have found a total of 27,837 British drivers were convicted of the offence multiple times in the 11 years to July 20.

Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions.

The figures relate to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency statistics released in response to a freedom of information request.

Following the information we spoke to Avon & Somerset Police about the dangers of drink driving.

Inspector Matt Boiles said:

"Its completely unacceptable, It's selfish and you place yourself at risk, others in your community at risk and risk loosing absolutely everything.

There is no way of knowing a safe limit for driving if you've had a drink or taken drugs, so clearly the advice has always been, don't have anything as you just don't know what is a safe level."

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said:

"It's chilling to see a proportion of the driving public remain intent on taking charge of a car while intoxicated, even after they've already been caught by the police on at least one occasion.

"The rate of fatalities caused by people drinking and driving is now at a similar level to where it was in the late 1980s, so it's clear something needs to change.

"Drivers need to be prevented from drinking and driving in the first place, so there's a good argument for mandating alcolocks be fitted to vehicles driven by anyone previously convicted."

Police forces in England and Wales conducted around 229,000 breath tests in 2022, according to Home Office figures.

Meanwhile the Department for Transport (DfT) figures show an estimated 300 people were killed in crashes on Britain's roads involving at least one driver over the legal alcohol limit in 2022.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.