Britain faces a deadly surge in drug driving deaths, which now officially overtake those from drink driving for the first time. Fresh government data shows 124 people died in drug driving-related crashes in 2023, up a staggering 38% from 90 deaths in 2022. In comparison, drink driving deaths dropped by 14% to 260 fatalities in the same period.
The shift is stark: drug driving now accounts for 9.1 percent of all fatal accidents almost one in ten deadly collisions on UK roads involve drivers under the influence of illegal or impairing substances. The most common drugs detected in deceased drivers are cocaine and cannabis, with the majority of offenders aged 20 to 29 showing positive test results.
The last decade has seen drug-driving fatalities climb by a frightening 164 percent, according to Direct Line analysis of government statistics. Not only are more drivers being killed, but drug-related crashes have fueled a surge in serious injuries and have made road safety a mounting public concern.
Experts and policymakers are sounding the alarm. While roadside drug testing and law enforcement have increased, public awareness and deterrence still lag far behind the battle against drink driving. Road safety advocates are demanding sweeping changes: rapid saliva-based testing, stricter prosecution, and cultural shifts to treat drug driving with the same urgency as alcohol.
With drug-impaired driving now accounting for nearly one in ten fatal accidents, the epidemic is impossible to ignore. Until enforcement and education catch up, the cost will remain counted in lives lost and families shattered. Britain’s driving public stands at a crossroads and the numbers are a sobering warning.