P.20 Drink and drug driving: The number of arrests for drink/drug driving offences in 2021 was 2,947 resulting in 2,756 drink/drug driving offences being referred for prosecution, with the worst offender being more than 5 times over the limit (report Table 9). This is a decrease from 3,666 arrests and 3,441 offences referred for prosecution in 2011, a decrease of 20% for both measures. Drink/drug driving continues to be a major contributor in fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions as ‘impaired by alcohol/drugs – driver/rider’ was the 2nd most common principal causation factor for KSI casualties between January and September 2021. Further analysis identifying issues and trends in relation to fatal and serious collisions caused by drink driving has been completed by Department for Infrastructure.

Almost half (46%) of drink/drug driving offences were detected at the weekend (Saturday or Sunday) and the month with most detections for drink/drug driving offences was May, accounting for 10% of the total (Table 8). Of the 11 Policing Districts, Belfast City recorded the highest number of drink drug driving offence detections in 2021 (503), however Derry City and Strabane recorded the highest rate per 10,000 population aged 16+, with 25. Ards and North Down had the fewest detections (159) and the lowest rate per 10,000 population aged 16+, with 12 (Figure 16).

P.6 Table 2: Number of motoring offences by offence group and month of year, 2020 and 2021 [includes Drink or drug driving]

P.7 Table 3: Number of motoring offences by gender, age and offence group, 2021 [includes Drink or drug driving]

P.21 Table 8: Number of drink/drug driving offences by day of week and month of year, 2021

P.21 Figure 15: Number of drink/drug driving offences by age and gender, 2021

P.21 Table 9: Top 5 alcohol readings for drink/drug driving offences, 2021

P.22 Figure 16: Rate of drink/drug driving offences per 10,000 population11 aged 16+ by Policing District: 2021

P.23 Table 10: Offence group by disposal type, 2021 [includes Drink or drug driving]

P.27 Table 12: Number of offences referred for prosecution by offence group and age, 2021 [includes Drink or drug driving]