Friday 17th October 2003

Pi$$ed up Pedestrians

Isn't alcohol the biggest killer on our roads?

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Walking home after a skin full is more dangerous than you might think. Aside the risks of ending up in a kebab shop or waking up next to a minger, the risk of getting run over is particularly high.

New figures reveal that more than 70% of young adult pedestrians (aged between 16 -34) killed on the UK’s roads and included in the study had been drinking. For all adults the figure was a similarly startling 60%.

The levels of alcohol in the victims blood has increased dramatically too in the last 15 years. Since 1979 there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of pedestrians killed who had a BAC above 2.5 times the drink drive limit (80mgs/100ml).

These figures, taken from recent research undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory  has prompted the RAC Foundation to call for more publicity to warn walkers of the potential dangers and more engineering measures to protect them.

Last year, 808 pedestrians were killed and almost 39,000 injured on UK roads. It would seem then that if the Government is to meet its targets on reducing road deaths then it might want to concentrate on this country's drinking problem rather than 'speeding' motorists.

[v8thunder]

Of course no-one's paying attention to this - you can't put all the blame on the motorist!

[Swilly]

They should clearly walk slower - Speed Kills, after all.

[Dodge]

So, depending on who you believe, 33%, or 7% of fatal accidents are caused by speeding, but 70% involve drunken walkers...

Now I see why they spend a fortune on speed cameras, and so little on path-side alcohol tests! Bugger.

[dazren]

So what are we to think from this. Perhaps the tax on booze sold in pubs and monies from speed cameras should be ringfenced to provide a complimentary government run taxi service to get us home after closing time?

DAZ

>> Edited by dazren on Friday 17th October 16:09

[Apache]

Not quite, perhaps more booze tax to pay for all those inconsiderate drunks burdening the NHS

[sgt^Roc]

Why has this statistic only just emerged, or is the 1% overall fatality reduction clear evidence that revenue is the main reason and not saving lives.

[v8thunder]

Surely the solution points to responsibility, rather than any kind of scheme. I'm all for getting totally p1$$3d occasionally, but people need to take more responsibility for their binge drinking. If you are injured by a passing car because you were drunk and staggered suddenly into the road, it should be your fault.

[Apache]

v8thunder said:

Surely the solution points to responsibility, rather than any kind of scheme. I'm all for getting totally p1$$3d occasionally, but people need to take more responsibility for their binge drinking. If you are injured by a passing car because you were drunk and staggered suddenly into the road, it should be your fault.

No, no, no, you are a motorist, it's your fault and you will be penalised accordingly, and if that meteor ever does hit the planet you're gonna wish you'd never passed your test mate

[rich 36]

Apache, spoken like a true pedestrian!

[thirsty]

I don't have a drinking problem. I drink. I fall down. No problem.

[Captain Muppet]

Anybody who can still walk after a night out really isn't trying hard enough.