HUNDREDS of people have been killed in drink driving incidents with rural areas the most dangerous in the county.

Some 562 people were killed or injured in Sussex between 2018 and 2020 where drivers failed or refused to take a breathalyser test.

More than half of the fatal incidents happened in West Sussex with 306 cases reported while East Sussex saw 198.

Brighton tallied just 58.

John Scruby, trustee of the Campaign Against Drink Driving and a former police officer, said the fall in casualties is “welcome news” but more must be done.

“We need to educate people about the perils of drink and drug driving,” he said.

"Education is the key factor to prevent drink and drug driving."

He also said greater enforcement from road police officers is needed, but this this style of policing has become more difficult due to a decline in officers over the last ten years.

All three areas in Sussex saw a reduction in the number of those killed or injured in drink driving incidents on the previous three-year period.

The national figure still remains at 14,018.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "More than 13,500 additional officers have already been recruited across England and Wales.

“We are on track to deliver our commitment to recruit 20,000.