Breathalyser testing has reached an all time low according to the latest official figures.

Police in England and Wales administered the fewest roadside breath tests since records began.

Home Office figures reveal that in 2021 just 224,100 motorists were breathalysed. Considering the huge reduction in traffic officers on the roads over the last decade due to government cuts, experts believe this is the main reason. The lack of police is also failing to act as a reliable deterrent discouraging drivers from drinking.

A new record

The data hows that despite the lack of tests carried out, 17% of all tests were either over the legal alcohol limit or the driver refused to provide a sample. This represents the highest proportion since 2003.

Many road safety experts have been warning that a significant rise in younger drivers drink driving is inevitable without a police presence on the roads. Alongside this, a reduction in official educational road safety campaigning are leading to a more relaxed attitude to drink driving.

A total of 224,162 motorists were breathalysed last year, representing a 7% decline on the previous year. It is also the lowest since 2002 when records began.

Those tests resulted in 40,861 positive or refused breath tests in 2021.

See no evil…

This fall continues the downward trend since the peak of 709,512 breath tests in 2009. In comparison, there were 68% fewer tests last year .

However, the Home Office’s report notes the lack of tests has largely been ‘influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic’.

It adds: ‘Carrying out a breath test requires the officer to stand close to the driver, and police forces cited minimising close contact with the public, fewer cars being out on the road, and closure of the night-time economy resulting in less offences as reasons for fewer breath tests being carried out during periods of national lockdown.

‘Additionally, many forces reported cancelling their summer drink-drive campaign in 2020, which in previous years had led to a small peak in the number of breath tests in June.’

Low down or lockdown

There were 220 road deaths where a motorist was over the drink drive limit. Despite the pandemic affect, it represents only a slight drop from a decade ago when there were 240 fatalities.

Department for Transport figures estimate a total of 6,480 people were killed or injured in drink drive incidents. Drunk drivers account for 15% of road casualties.

December saw 17% of all breath tests carried out in 2021 with police traditionally ramping up campaigns around the festive season.

However, December 2021 had the lowest proportion of tests that were positive.

Cuts hurt

Hunter Abbott, managing director of AlcoSense, says: “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.”