West Midlands drink- driving crashes up 12 per cent
The West Midlands saw the second highest number of arrests in the country for drink drivers involved in serious accidents, with nearly 400 motorists falling foul of the breathalyser in just one year.
New figures from the Department for Transport show that across the region in 2015 a total of 7,804 drivers in smashes were tested for alcohol, with 390 testing positive - up 12.7 per cent on the previous year.
The figures also show that across the UK in 2015 a total of 1,370 people were killed or seriously injured in drink-drive collisions, up five per cent on 2014.
The total number of recorded deaths resulting from crashed involving drink drivers was 200.
A rise in the number of drink drive related collisions has led campaigners to call for extra police numbers to crack down on drink driving.
The West Midlands saw the second highest number of positive tests out of nine regions in the country. Over the same period in the south east there were 622 drink driving arrests for drivers involved in serious accidents.
West Midlands Police say they have maintained a sharp focus on clamping down on drink driving in recent years, despite the number of traffic officers on the region's roads halving in the past decade.
The force now has 186 dedicated traffic officers, 198 less than it had in 2007.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, a former Labour road safety minister, said: "People driving under the influence of drink or drugs are a menace on our roads, causing harm and misery.
"I am hugely supportive of West Midlands Police’s efforts to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by drink driving.
"Drinking alcohol then getting behind the wheel is the most dangerous thing a driver can do. It’s a reckless and selfish act.
"Making our roads safer has always been one of my top priorities."
In the UK the drink driving limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
Jason Wakeford, Campaigns director for road safety charity Brake, said: "Selfish drink drivers destroy lives and inflict appalling suffering on families up and down the country.
"There will be more, unrecorded, casualties involving drivers impaired by alcohol but under the current limit.
"The drink drive limit in England and Wales is the second highest in Europe and must be lowered urgently. In addition, savage cuts to road traffic policing must be reversed and enforcement increased to crack down on dangerous drink drivers."
A DfT spokesman said the Government was determined to reduce drink driving related casualties through 'enforcement and tougher penalties'.
In June WMP launched a summer crackdown on drivers under the influence of drink and/or drugs which saw saw roadside stop checks and unmarked patrols ramped up.
During the summer months of 2016 the force snared 568 drink drivers. WMP said the reduction in the number of traffic officers had been partly offset by technological advancements helping police to keep roads safe.
Dean Hatton, head of Central Motorway Policing Group, said: “West Midlands Police, like many forces has seen a reduction in budget and therefore a reduction in the number of officers.
"There have been huge advancements in technology in this period of time and our road traffic officers routinely utilise ANPR and helmet cams alongside more traditional tactics to keep roads safe.
"In addition, all officers employed by the force are available to help specialist road traffic officers when required."
However, the AA said the decline in officer numbers could led to more drivers getting away with crimes.
A spokesman said: “We need more cops in cars, not fewer.
“The UK has among the safest roads in Europe, although the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads has started to rise after many years of steady decline. Maybe there is a link?"
