Drink driving in the UK - statistics and data

Drink driving in the UK ruins people’s lives – and the latest Government data shows that between 230 to 290 people a year are killed in vehicle collisions where a driver is over the limit.

This road safety guide looks at the statistics relating to drink driving in the UK.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

Drink-driving statistics

According to the latest official figures, the estimate of fatalities for 2022 is the highest level since 2009 - and an increase compared to the previous year - but fell 14% in 2023 (latest data).

Drink-driving collisions represents 17% of all deaths on the roads.

In 2023, police‑reported road collisions in Great Britain that involved a driver or rider over the legal alcohol limit resulted in an estimated 1,860 people being killed or seriously injured. This represents a 3% decrease compared with 2022.

Across all injury levels, there were approximately 6,310 drink‑drive casualties during the same year, marking a 6% reduction from the previous year.

Although the overall numbers of drink‑drive fatalities and total casualties have shown different trends in recent years, one pattern has become increasingly clear - the proportion of all reported road casualties that are linked to drink‑driving has risen over the past decade.

This increase applies across all severities, fatal, serious, and slight injuries, indicating that alcohol‑related incidents continue to make up a growing share of Britain’s road casualty profile.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

Drink-driving data by country

When looking at the casualties caused by drink drivers, there are differences between England, Wales, and Scotland.

The latest data shows that the percentage of all casualties which occurred in drink-drive collisions was the highest in Wales at 7.3%.

This was followed by England at 5.2% and Scotland at 4.1%.

Analysing the regions of Great Britain, the highest casualty rates was in the East Midlands (7%).

The lowest rate was in London at 2.5%.

However, when analysing the data, it is important to note that Scotland has a lower drink-drive limit compared to the other UK nations (22mg per 100ml of breath or 50ml per 100ml of blood in Scotland vs 35mg in England and Wales).

Drink-driving by gender

When it comes to collisions involving alcohol, the data shows that 79% involved male drivers. Female drivers represent 20% of the data, with less than 1% of recorded collisions where gender is not listed.

Overall road collision data highlighted that 70% of collisions involved male drivers, compared to 30% of collisions involving women.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

Drink driving by age

Looking at the ages for drivers who are responsible for drink-driving collisions, six-in-10 (64%) were aged between 25 and 59.

This was followed by 24% for ages 16 to 24, and 8% for those aged over 60.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

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Is drink driving on the rise?

More than 2,500 drivers have been caught drink‑driving on at least three separate occasions in the last 11 years, new RAC analysis of DVLA data shows – highlighting the scale of repeat offending on UK roads.^* 

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the RAC found 2,553 accrued three or more DR10 or DR20 endorsements for drink-driving since 2014.^** DR10 endorsements apply to those driving or attempting to drive above the legal alcohol limit, while DR20 endorsements are issued to motorists deemed unfit to drive because of alcohol.^***

The analysis comes at a time when road safety groups are urging the Government to introduce mandatory alcohol ignition interlock devices – ‘alcolocks’ – for high-risk and repeat drink-drive offenders. These devices prevent a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.  

The data also reveals several extreme cases of persistent reoffending. One motorist amassed 10 separate DR10 convictions, another had eight, and a further 13 drivers incurred six convictions for driving over the limit. In total, 2,171 drivers accrued three DR10 endorsements, alongside 25 motorists with three DR20 endorsements.

Overall, the DVLA data shows 220,638 motorists currently hold drink‑driving endorsements – 217,757 DR10 cases and 2,881 DR20 cases. 

And in the last 11 years, 26,819 licence holders have been convicted more than once, demonstrating the challenge of preventing reoffending among a minority of persistent offenders.

The figures relate to the number of DR10 and DR20 endorsements on driving records, which last for 11 years from the date of offence and are given to motorists driving above the legal limit or found unfit to drive because of alcohol impairment.

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “These figures make it painfully clear that licence disqualification alone does little to prevent some convicted drink-drivers reoffending. 

“The solution for repeat and high-risk drink-drivers who are highly likely to get behind the wheel again after drinking is something that physically prevents them doing so. 

“Alcohol interlocks or ‘alcolocks’ do just that as they are breathalyser devices fitted to a vehicle’s ignition system that prevent it being started if the driver has been drinking alcohol.

“We believe they could play a vital role in stopping persistent offenders putting lives at risk if they were part of mandatory court-ordered programme. Public support is already strong, with RAC data showing 82% of drivers^**** back the introduction of alcolocks to prevent drink-driving.

“When one instance can kill, 10 occurrences on the same licence is a truly grim Groundhog Day that must be prevented. Surely as a society we can’t afford not to be using alcolocks.”

The Lock Out Drink‑Driving Campaign, launched in December 2025, is calling for the Government to bring forward a mandatory alcolock programme for repeat offenders.

A campaign spokesperson said: “These figures should be a wake‑up call for road safety in Great Britain. To see more than 18,000 people convicted of multiple drink‑driving offences – some with as many as six convictions – is completely unacceptable. It is clear that current measures are failing to break the cycle of reoffending.

“We welcome the Government’s interest in alcolocks in the new Road Safety Strategy, but this data shows decisive action is needed now. A mandatory alcolock programme for high‑risk and repeat offenders would prevent further avoidable tragedies on our roads.”

The findings follow the publication of the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy which is targeting a 65% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2035. Its consultation on new road safety measures – including potential alcolock use – is open until 31 March 2026.

Alcohol interlocks are already widely used in EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US, with studies demonstrating reductions in reoffending of up to 70% once the devices are fitted.***** A new Dutch study also shows that drivers who had the devices installed remain less likely to reoffend even once they were removed.^******

^{* Based on a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA (FOIR12833) in October 2025. The request was ‘As of 20 July 2025, please share the number of DR10 / DR20 endorsements currently on driving records in Great Britain’}

^{** Based on the same Freedom of Information request (FOIR12833). The request was ‘A breakdown showing how many drivers have one DR10 / DR20 endorsement, how many have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine etc.’}

^{*** GOV.UK: Penalty points (endorsements)}

^{**** Research for the RAC Report on Motoring was carried out from 4-21 April 2025; 2,395 drivers. Results rim-weighted to be nationally representative of UK motorists}

^{***** Effects of ignition interlock license restrictions on drivers with multiple alcohol offenses: a randomized trial in Maryland - International research has suggested that 50-75% of disqualified drink-drivers continue to drive while serving a ban}

^{****** Dutch program using in-car alcohol lock cuts drunk driving long after end}

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Drink driving collisions by month

In July 2024, the Government released its latest data on drink driving in the UK, and it highlighted the most likely months where collisions and casualties happen on the road network.

The table below shows that January, July, and August have the highest estimated collision rate, and July and August have the highest level of casualties.

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten to reflect the uncertainty associated with making estimates from incomplete data sources. As a result, totals for a year may not match the sum of figures for all months due to rounding. Additionally, the data excludes pedal cyclists and horse riders.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

Drink driving collisions by time of day

The table below shows the reported drink-drive collisions by severity and time of event on the roads in Great Britain.

Please note that all figures in the table above are rounded to the nearest 10 and exclude collisions which only involve pedal cyclists or horse riders.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

Drink driving by country and English regions

This table shows the estimated number of reported drink drive collisions in Great Britain by country and English region according to the latest statistics from the Government released in 2024.

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten to account for the uncertainty that comes with making estimates from incomplete data sources. As a result, totals may not sum precisely due to rounding.

^{Source: gov.co.uk}

RAC Report on Motoring 2025: Drink-driving

According to the 2025 report, the proportion of drivers who admit to driving while over the drink‑drive limit in the past year appears to be returning to pre‑pandemic levels.

This year, 7% of drivers believe they have driven over the limit on the same night they consumed alcohol, and 5% think they have done so the following morning. Both figures are the highest recorded since 2019. Meanwhile, the share of drivers who are confident they have not driven over the limit has fallen to 89%, the lowest level since 2019.

Self‑reported drink‑driving is most common among younger motorists.

Among drivers aged under 25, 30% say they have driven while over the limit in the past 12 months. This compares with 19% of drivers aged 25 to 44, 5% of those aged 45 to 64, and just 2% of drivers aged 65 and over.

More worryingly, the data suggests drink‑driving is rising sharply among people under 45.

Nearly a fifth (18%) of under‑25s now say they have driven over the limit shortly after drinking alcohol, up from 15% in 2024. Among drivers aged 25 to 44, the rate has risen from 8% to 14% in the past year.

Feedback from passengers supports this trend.

In 2025, 16% of passengers say they have been in a car where they suspect the driver was over the limit, double the 8% reported in 2024.

Among passengers under 25, the figure has jumped from 28% to 40%, while in the 25‑to‑44 age group it has risen from 14% to 31%.

There is strong public backing for tougher action to address drink‑driving.

More than two‑thirds of drivers (68%) believe additional measures are needed, with support rising even higher among younger motorists: 77% of drivers under 25 and 75% of those aged 25 to 44 think more should be done.

Notably, these are also the groups most likely to admit to breaking drink‑drive laws, according to the RAC’s data.

As part of the 2025 report, the RAC asked the 32% of drivers who initially opposed further action to reconsider their position after being shown new figures revealing that drink‑drive fatalities have risen to their highest level since 2009, now accounting for around one-fifth of all road deaths.

Confronted with this evidence, 43% of previously unconvinced drivers changed their minds and said they would now support increased enforcement and/or stricter legislation.

The report also explored attitudes towards one specific intervention designed to reduce drink‑driving: alcohol interlocks.

These devices, already widely used in several other countries, prevent a vehicle from starting unless the driver passes an on‑board breath test.

Support for introducing alcohol interlocks in the UK is very high, with 82% of drivers back the idea.

Among those in favour, the majority (71%) believe every driver caught over the legal limit should be required to have an interlock fitted.

A smaller proportion (23%) think the devices should be reserved for repeat offenders.

As with other measures, support is strongest among younger people.

Endorsement of alcohol interlocks rises to 87% among drivers under 25 and 86% among those aged 25 to 44. Even among older drivers, support remains substantial, with 73% of those aged 65 and over in favour of their introduction.

^{Source: RAC Report on Motoring, 2025}