The number of people dying in drink-drive crashes has hit a 12-year high, figures have revealed.
An estimated 260 people were killed in collisions involving a driver over the alcohol limit in 2021, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. The figure is up from 220 during the previous 12 months, which included the first lockdown when people had to stay at home.
The total for 2021 is the highest annual figure since 2009, when there were 380 deaths.
A further 1,610 people were seriously injured in drink-drive crashes in 2021. An estimated 6,740 people were killed or injured in drink-drive collisions, an increase of 4 per cent on 2020.
The rise in the figures for 2021 could in part be attributed to the fact that