In an attempt to catch repeat offenders of driving under the influence of drink, intelligence-led policing should be brought into greater use.

This is the opinion of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), which believes introducing such a measure would help to significantly reduce incidents of drink driving on the UK's roads.

Newly-released figures from the Department for Transport show the number of such accidents resulting in fatalities decreased by five per cent between 2011 and 2012, falling from 220 to 210. 

In addition, ten fewer people were killed in drink driving-related incidents across the 12-month period – a decrease of four per cent.

While these drops may be small, they are a great deal more significant than the figures for 2010, when there was no progress made with regard to reducing the number of fatalities caused by motorists who had been drinking.

Despite this progress being made, just one death is one too many and the IAM therefore believes tougher measures need to be introduced to tackle drink drivers and discourage people from getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

The road safety charity predicts the publication of these figures will spark debate about whether or not the drink drive limit should be lowered.

Director of policy and research at the IAM Neil Greig commented: "A new limit will reinforce the message that drink driving is anti-social, but it is not clear how it will impact on those who ignore the current limit and who are responsible for the most serious crashes.

"Intelligence-led policing targeting the criminal minority does seem to be delivering and must be enhanced in the future."

He went on to say that widespread use of such policing methods would make motorists aware they are more likely to be caught for their crime, therefore discouraging repeat offenders from taking to the roads under the influence of alcohol, potentially helping to save lives.

Mr Greig added this would be "the real answer to taking the long-term risk takers off the roads for good".