Drug-related deaths in Portsmouth are higher than deaths on roads

Between 2013 and 2015, 55 people died from taking illegal drugs. During the same period, only three people died on the road.

The data, sourced by the BBC, was broken down into local authorities and in Hampshire, there were 129 drug-related deaths compared to 118 deaths on the road.

In neighbouring city Southampton, there were 36 drug-related deaths and eight road deaths in the last three years.

Speaking on the three road deaths, Councillor Jim Fleming, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: ‘While the number of road deaths in Portsmouth is low in comparison to other authorities, any loss of life is a tragedy. The road safety team deliver an annual programme of road safety training and awareness raising to educate key audiences about road safety.

‘This includes delivering road safety training in schools and targeting cyclists through a ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ initiative with the police.

‘Also, we were the first council in England to implement an extensive residential 20mph speed limit scheme back in 2008.’