Public perception of crime: Drink driving

Drink driving

* ^^1967 Road safety^^ act made it illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of ^^over 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood^^
* ^^1925^^ the first law was passed making driving while drunk an offence however ==no legal definition of drunk or legal limit of alcohol in blood==
* Car ownerships increased resulting in more deaths: ^^from 5000 in 1950 to 8000 by the 1960s^^

Changing perceptions

* Road safety ==has become more of a public concern==+ moving up the political agenda
* E.g. ^^from 1966^^ all new cars were fitted with seatbelts
* Also ^^1967 road safety^^ act due to public concern

Breathalysers

* ^^1968^^ the first breathalysers were introduced for roadside use
* with a major ad campaign by the government it helped to ==reduce road deaths by over 1000 + serious injuries by over 11,000==
* Proportion of accidents where alcohol was involved also fell from ^^25% to 15%^^

Tougher laws

* ^^1983^^- High risk offenders scheme was ==introduced for convicted drivers with an alcohol problem==, including those disqualified more than once for drink driving.
* Now have to undergo medical before they can get their license back
* New laws and tougher sentences reflect growing public intolerance
* ==Deaths from accidents involving alcohol have been falling over the long term== largely due to tighter restrictions

Campaigns

* The first tv advertising campaign against drink driving mounted by the government ^^aired over 50 years ago^^
* ==fall in deaths is partially due to these campaigns==
* usually targets groups most at risk e.g. young men