U.K. drunken driving deaths fell in 2010

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LONDON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Police records show the number of road collisions resulting in death due to drunken driving dropped significantly in Britain last year, officials say.

In 2010, there were 250 deaths that were the result of drunken driving, compared with 380 in 2009, representing a 35 percent decrease, the BBC reported.

Serious injuries caused by drunken driving dropped by 18 percent and minor injuries dropped by 19 percent, the Department for Transport said.

Transport Minister Norman Baker says there has been an 83 percent decline in deaths involving drinking and driving within the past 30 years.

"However, we are determined to continue to take firm action against the small minority of drivers who still ignore the limit. That is why we are taking forward a package of measures to streamline enforcement against both drink and drug-driving -- including approving portable evidential breath testing equipment and drug testing devices which will speed up the testing process and free up police time," he said.

The statistics for drunken driving-related deaths and injuries are based on road accidents reported to police across Great Britain.