Many pedestrians killed on Cornwall roads 'are drunk'

Many pedestrians killed in crashes in Cornwall since 2003 were drunk, according to a study by the unitary council.

Its analysis of road fatalities over the past eight years found that 18 of the 39 pedestrians who died were drunk.

Levels of intoxication ranged from mild to eight times over the legal driving limit, said the council.

Of the deaths, 14 people were hit and killed after either lying in the carriageway or walking in the road.

Adrian Roberts, safety engineer for Cornwall Council, said that all the pedestrians had consumed enough to be classed as "drunk".

He said: "We thought the number of pedestrians that had died on our roads was high, but to see the figures in writing and the scale of the problem, it was a shock.

"With all the anti-drink driving campaigns many people think it is safe to walk home, although these figures show this might not be the case and perhaps public transport is a better option."