Road safety organisations have expressed concern as newly published DfT estimates show an increase in drink-drive related crashes in Great Britain.

There were 5,740 collisions and accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit in 2015.

The provisional figures for 2015 indicate that 1,380 people were killed or seriously injured when at least one driver was over the limit, up from 1,310 in 2014.

In addition, the total number of collisions and accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by over 2% from 5,620 to 5,740 in 2015.

The figures also indicate a rise in overall drink drive casualties of all severities from 8,210 for the final figures in 2014 to 8,480 for provisional 2015 figures, a 3% increase.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, stated that the continued lack of progress in reducing these figures had gone on for too long and was still too high – 13%, or around one in seven, of all fatal crashes involved alcohol in 2015.

Greig continued IAM RoadSmart’s call for a lower limit in England and Wales and also said that rehabilitation courses should be compulsory for convicted drink-drivers.

He added: “The only way to catch those who ignore the limit is through intelligence-led high profile policing so investment in roads policing must be protected.

His comments were backed up by RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams who said the rising figures are a “real cause for concern”, adding: “It would be extremely worrying if this was happening because of the fact there are fewer traffic police on the road. We’ve seen the number decline by 27% over the last five years in England and Wales as chief constables seek to manage priorities with decreased budgets leaving us with fewer than 4,000 dedicated officers to enforce motoring laws.”