Ministers urged to cut drink-drive limit to less than a pint
Campaigners are demanding ministers cut the drink-drive limit to less than a pint.
A report released yesterday by the Department for Transport revealed there has been no decrease in the number of drink-driving deaths since 2010.
Around 240 people were killed in drink-driving related incidents in 2014, while a similar number is expected to be released for 2015.
Now organisations including the Campaign Against Drink Driving (CADD) and the Alcohol Health Alliance are urging government action to reduce the limit by at least a third.
Road safety charity Brake is going even further with calls for a “zero tolerance” policy.
“We are calling on government to introduce tougher laws and enforcement,” says the charity.
“We need a zero-tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg per 100ml of blood, in line with evidence even one small drink affects driving – this will make clear it should be none for the road.”
Of the 1,310 people killed or seriously injured in drink-driving related incidents in 2014, 40% were drivers over the limit and the rest were passengers, other road users or pedestrians.
The current drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 80mg alcohol/100ml blood, which is high by international standards.
Scotland decreased its limit to 50mg in December 2014, and witnessed a 12.5% decrease in drink-drive incidents in the first nine months.
John Scruby, a former police traffic officer and CADD campaigner, told politics.co.uk: “Drink driving has huge and life changing impacts, both for the individuals involved and their friends and families.
“The number of drink driving deaths on our roads has not reduced since 2010, the government needs to tackle this issue head on and lower the drink driving limit to make our roads safer.”
ArticleMinisters urged to cut drink-drive limit to less than a pintdrink-driveCampaign Against Drink DrivingAlcohol Health AllianceDepartment for Transport