The Dangers of Drinking and Walking

Drunk pedestrians can be a major cause of traffic accidents, according to new research by price comparison website Confused.com.

The research shows that over 6,000 ‘drunk’ pedestrians have been injured on UK roads since 20111, and many of these ‘drunk walking’ accidents are happening over the Christmas period.

Drunk pedestrians are most at risk of injury on UK roads between the times of 22:00-23:59, perhaps as a result of a long night of drinking. Men are apparently the most likely to drink-walk, and account for more than three quarters (79%) of all drunk pedestrian road incidents.

One in seven Brits (14%) admit that they have crossed roads without looking properly, when drunk, with a similar number (13%) confessing to having sat down on the side of the road when intoxicated. Worryingly, one in ten Brits (10%) say that they have fallen into a road when drunk.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one in ten (10%) pedestrians say they have been hit or nearly hit by a car after drinking too much. Most incidents happen on busy streets (23%); outside pubs (19%); clubs (16%) and bars (14%).

Drunken walkers are also putting motorists at risk, with nearly a third (31%) of drivers saying they had to swerve or brake in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian they suspected of being intoxicated, with more than one in ten (12%) admitting to having actually knocked into a pedestrian that they believed to be drunk.

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