Dorset has one of UK’s top drink-driving arrest rates

Recently-compiled data shows that Dorset has one of the highest percentages of drink-drivers in its residents compared to other locations in the UK. The county’s police department has the fifth-highest drink-driving arrest rate among jurisdictions in the UK.

During a 12-month period, police officers have made 849 arrests for drink-driving, a rate of 1.19 arrests for every 1,000 Dorset residents.

Police departments with higher arrest rates for drink-driving include Cornwall, Devon, Dyfed-Powys and West Yorkshire. Northern Ireland’s police force has the highest drink-driving arrest rate, with a rate of 1.65 arrests for every 1,000 residents.

Leasing Options, a car specialist company, compiled the data. The company obtained the data using Freedom of Information requests to determine which jurisdictions had the highest arrest rates for drug and drink-driving during a 12-month period.

According to the latest national data announced by the Department for Transport, between 180 to 200 individuals died in traffic accidents in 2016 where at least one of the drivers had a blood-alcohol reading that exceeded the drink-driving limit.

From 2014 to 2016, the number of drink-driving accidents increased by 2% to 5,730. From July to September 2017, Drink Drive Rehabilitation Scheme referrals totalled 8,315.

A spokesperson for the Dorset Police announced that they were committed to reducing drink-driving in the county, and added that: “Our efforts include pro-active targeting of offenders, high visibility patrols and road checks to deter offenders, and management of drivers suspected of drink driving under the Operation Dragoon initiative.”