SOUTH WALES Police have made more than 3,300 arrests for drink-driving in the last three years, with 984 in the last year alone, a new investigation has revealed.
It is in the top ten UK police forces with the highest number of arrests since 2021.
Fresh data obtained by law firm Legal Expert via Freedom of Information Requests has found that between December 2021 and November 2024, the force arrested 3,333 drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. Of those, 78 per cent resulted in a charge.
Legal Expert’s Road Traffic Accident Specialist, Tracy Chick says: “Drink-driving is such an avoidable offence and there is no excuse for drinking and getting behind the wheel.”
South Wales Police also revealed the most prolific areas in the region for drink-driving in the last year.
Mid Glamorgan came out on top with a total of 377 drivers arrested in 2023/24.
It is followed by Cardiff & The Vale where 303 offenders were caught. A further 288 arrests were made in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.
The most common age group for those arrested in the last year was between 25-34, accounting for 31 per cent of the figures, closely followed by 35-44 year-olds which made up 28 per cent.
What’s more, a staggering 75 per cent of drink-drivers arrested by South Wales police in the last year were male.
The findings follow the latest data released by the Department for Transport in 2024 revealing that UK drink-driving deaths have hit a 13-year-high.
There were an estimated 300 deaths where at least one driver was over the legal blood-alcohol limit in 2022, the latest year for which official figures are available. This is the highest annual figure since 2009.
The number is 16 per cent higher than in 2021 and means drink-drive fatalities accounted for about 18 per cent of all deaths, bucking the general long-term trend for safer roads and more responsible driving.
RTA Specialist Tracy Chick said: “It is deeply concerning that drink-drive-related deaths have reached their highest level since 2009. Anyone who drinks and drives is putting the lives of all road users at risk.
“The impact of drink-driving can be devastating not only for victims who have been killed or suffered life-changing injuries but also for the drivers facing serious legal consequences – it is such an avoidable offence and there is no excuse for drinking and getting behind the wheel.”
Out of 34 UK Police Forces that responded to Legal Expert’s Freedom of Information request within the deadline, South Wales reported the seventh-highest number of drink-driving arrests over the past three years.
Ms Chick added: “Throughout my legal career, I have worked with victims and families of drink-driving collisions and the impact is immense. Thankfully, I’ve been able to bring even a small comfort by securing them the compensation they deserve to help to start to rebuild their lives.”
Legal Expert offers specialist advice and support to anyone involved in a drink-driving incident.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.
