Drink drive fatalities increase by almost one-fifth

The number of fatal accidents involving drink drivers last year rose by 18 per cent, from 220 in 2010 to 260 in 2011 according to figures published by the Department for Transport.

In the same period, the number of people killed in drink drive accidents increased by 12 per cent, from 250 to 280 (one accident can involve more than one fatality). This means that 15 per cent of all fatalities in road accidents involved drink driving.