Dozens of Warrington road casualties the result of alcohol

The data, taken from 2018-2020, shows that almost 50 deaths on roads in Warrington included a failed (or refused) breathalyser test.

That's according to figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

Drinking alcohol, or taking drugs and driving puts all road users in danger. The safest option is not to drink alcohol. Other safe alternatives include taking a taxi, bus or train, or walking home.https://t.co/1ezFkGDH3E pic.twitter.com/xwzyCLiztk

— Lymm Fire Station (@LymmFS) December 2, 2021

These figures show that the 43 drink-related casualties in the three-year period made up 3.2 per cent of all road casualties in Warrington.

This is marginally better than the national average for drink-related road deaths, with the average across the country's roads being 3.6 per cent.

However, the figure of 43 drink-related road casualties between 2018-20 is slightly better than the previous three-year study, which registered 46 drink-related road deaths in Warrington.

The figures show there has been a slight decline in the number of drink-related road casualties in Warrington (Image: Archant)

Separate Department for Transport figures, which do not have local authority data, show around 30 people died in drink driving incidents in the North West in 2020 – up from 10 the year before.

It is suggested that the impact of lockdown has caused fewer drink-related road deaths, given the reduced road travel at the time.

John Scruby, trustee of the Campaign Against Drink Driving said the fall in casualties is welcome news, but that more must be done to educate people about the perils of drink and drug driving: "Education is the key factor to prevent drink and drug driving."

35yr old female arrested in the Appleton area for drink driving this was identified after a collision #Fatal5 pic.twitter.com/ZZaRgjg0mG

— Warrington Police (@PoliceWarr) August 7, 2022

Mr Scruby also said greater enforcement is needed, but that it is the "final option" and has become more difficult following the decline in the number of dedicated road policing officers in the last 10 years.

The Home Office said that it wants more police officers on the streets in order to ensure the safety of communities.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "More than 13,500 additional officers have already been recruited across England and Wales and we are on track to deliver our commitment to recruit 20,000, however, the deployment of officers is an operational decision for Chief Constables."