Roadside breath test figures ‘lowest on record’

New statistics show the number of motorists breathalysed in England and Wales fell to a record low in 2021. The Home Office figures, analysed by Alcosense, show 224,162 roadside breath tests were administered in 2021 – a 7% fall compared with the previous year.

The 2021 figure continues the downward trend since the peak of 709,512 breath tests in 2009 – a decline of 68%. Yet, despite this, 17% of the drivers tested in 2021 were over the limit – the highest proportion since 2003. Alcosense has attributed the fall to the diminishing number of dedicated roads policing officers.

Hunter Abbott, managing director of AlcoSense, said: “Separate Home Office figures show the number of dedicated roads policing officers had decreased to 3,886 by March 2022 compared with 5,220 in 2015 – down by over a quarter.

“This explains the drop in tests. The only positive to draw is a marginal increase of 36 officers compared with last year – so hopefully the long-term decline has now bottomed out.”

Alcosense has also raised concerns over the link between fewer breath tests being administered and the pitfalls of morning after drink driving. It points to studies which suggest the pandemic’s impact on drinking behaviour has resulted in heavy drinkers now consuming more alcohol at home than pre-Covid.