There is mounting pressure for the Government to reduce the legal blood alcohol level for drivers in the UK. The current limit permits 80mg per 100ml of blood, roughly a pint and a half of medium strength lager for an average sized man. The proposed limit would bring it down to 50mg per 100ml of blood which is little more than half a pint or a large glass of wine which is in line with the European Union limit.
Sir Peter North remarked that ”Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs still leads to a large number of deaths and serious injuries. The challenge is to see whether changes in the law and its processes can reduce casualties.”
The current UK laws mean that anyone found driving over the legal limit faces an automatic 12 month driving ban but there is current investigation by Sir Peter North QC into the possibilities of introducing a second, lower penalty for anyone above the lower limit such as 6 points on a driving licence. Changes could also see prosecutions for drivers found with illegal drugs in their bloodstream, regardless of whether it impaired their performance.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has proved that over 400 people a year are killed as a result of drink driving but this figure does not reflect any incidents where drivers were above the proposed lower limit. He also suggests drug-driving is a key concern for the public.
Peter North QC added: ”Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs still leads to a large number of deaths and serious injuries. The challenge is to see whether changes in the law and its processes can reduce casualties.”
But the plans are not welcomed by everyone, Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations condemned the proposals, “We will fight this very very strongly,” he said. “This will penalise responsible people because of the behaviour of some idiots.
Thousands of drivers each year are convicted of a drink driving offence but even more are convicted, with lower penalties, of a speeding offence, something that causes many more fatalities each year.
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