Festive revellers were warned yesterday to get a lift home from a sober driver rather than attempting to walk home drunk, following new research which found that pedestrians were twice as likely to be killed when they were over the legal alcohol limit.
The chief executive of the National Safety Council, Mr Pat Costello, said alcohol was a contributory factor in about one-third of the 118 pedestrian deaths last year. "We would urge people to organise taxis, buses or coaches or nominate a non-drinking driver for the evening to ensure everyone gets home safely," Mr Costello said.
Research compiled by the British national agency on alcohol abuse, Alcohol Concern, found that one-in-three pedestrians killed in Britain was over the legal drink-driving limit. In contrast, just 19 per cent of motorists who died were over the limit.