Demands for tougher drink drive penalties

The AA has called for a review of how drink drivers are dealt with after DVLA figures showed that more than 8,000 drivers have been caught over the limit at least twice in the past five years. Between 2011 and 2015, 219,008 motorists were prosecuted for driving or attempting to drive while above the legal alcohol limit – with 8,096 caught twice. In the same period, 449 drivers were banned for drink-driving three times, with two drivers prosecuted for the offence six times. AA president Edmund King has called for a review into the medical checks and rehabilitation courses drink-drivers undergo before being allowed back on the road. Road safety charity Brake said: “It is appalling that offenders are being allowed to continue driving after being caught drink-driving multiple times.”