New AA analysis has revealed that young drivers are significantly over-represented in fatal crashes during December evenings.
The data has been released as a warning to younger drivers ahead of the Christmas party season.
It found that young drivers (17-20) were involved in a fifth (19%) of night-time fatal collisions last December, despite this age group making up just 2.4% of licence holders.
Overall, drunk drivers are involved in nearly a fifth (18%) of all fatalities on UK roads. This equates to an estimated 280 fatal drink-drive collisions in 2022, the highest level since 2009. Impairment by drugs is listed in 6.2% of fatal collisions.
Encouragingly, an AA/Yonder poll revealed that many drivers are now turning to zero-alcohol options to avoid drink driving, with more than four-fifths (83%) saying the range of zero-alcohol drinks now means there is no excuse for drink driving.