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Figures show rise in drink driving casualties

Drink driving campaigning has seen a huge drop in casualties since the 1960s. Credit: John Giles/PA.

The number of people killed and injured in drink driving incidents in Wales has risen for the first time in three years, according to recent figures.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first anti drink driving campaigning, and the new figures come despite a general drop across the UK in the numbers of those killed or injured in drink driving incidents since the 1960s.

Department for Transport statistics:

  • 2009 - 720 (drink driving casualties in Wales)
  • 2010 - 610
  • 2011 - 550
  • 2012 - 560

Through a combination of road safety campaigning and better enforcement, road deaths due to drink driving have fallen from 1,640 in 1967 - when drink driving records began - to 230 deaths in 2012.