Drink-Drive Limit Could Be Lowered in UK

The drink driving limit could be reduced to the equivalent of one pint of beer, or half a glass of wine, according to some recent plans announced by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis. Furthermore, it could also see the implementation of a new drug driving limit. The current drink limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. The consequences of exceeding this limit is an automatic 12-month driving ban.

An independent expert has been appointed to examine possible changes to this law. Peter North will therefore be the one in charge with providing advice concerning this matter to the Department for Transport by the end of March 2010 and then publish a new road safety strategy.

 “Road safety has improved significantly in recent years – 1,000 fewer people now die on the roads in a year than in the mid-1990s – and Britain now has one the safest road systems in the world,” Andrew Adonis said. “But we need to cut further the number of tragedies on our roads. Drink driving killed 430 people last year and research suggests drug driving is a key concern the public.”

 “To reduce drink and drug driving accidents there may be a case for further strengthening the law. I have appointed Sir Peter North to provide me with independent advice on lowering the drink drive limit and tackling drug driving through a new offence,” he continued.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs still leads to a large number of deaths and serious injuries,” Peter North added. "The challenge is to see whether changes in the law and its processes can reduce casualties.

"The legal and practical issues are not easy to resolve but I intend to consult widely on these matters.I shall form my own independent views on them with the objective of providing advice by the end of March.”