Ministers back move to slash drink-drive limit

Demands for the drink-drive limit to be dramatically lowered in a bid to cut the carnage on Britain's roads have taken a major step forward.

A small glass of wine or a single pint of beer could be enough to put motorists over the limit under new Government proposals.

Road safety experts say slashing the drink-drive limit will save up to 65 lives a year.

The crackdown, which has won support from ministers, could see up to 200,000 drivers a year losing their licences – double the present number.

The move comes after the SNP administration put pressure on Westminster to reduce the limit – as only MPs have to the power to change the law on this issue.

Last year Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill met Westminster Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in a bid to convince her that change was needed.

Ministers in London are now said to be "minded" to cut the limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg – the legal maximum found in most of the rest of Europe – and such a move could come in within 18 months.

Lowering the limit would be accompanied by increased enforcement with police likely to be given wider powers to introduce random breath-testing

Ministers are considering three options for penalising drivers who are caught between the proposed 50mg limit and the existing 80mg.

These are to: keep the existing penalty of a ban, a maximum six months imprisonment and £5,000 fine; introduce automatic participation in a drink-driver rehabilitation programme; or imposing six penalty points for a five-year period on first time offenders, followed by automatic disqualification for a second offence. This has been dubbed a "two strikes and you're out" option.

Ministers believe growing concern about binge drinking means the climate is now right to lower the limit.

They have been stung by criticism that they are failing to get to grips with the drink-drive problem because there are too few traffic police to enforce the law – and an over-reliance on technology such as speed cameras which cannot catch such offenders.

Rob Gifford, of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety, said: "There was a move a decade ago in 1998 to lower the limit but it foundered because of pressure from rural pubs and motorists who wanted a pint or two.

"But the climate has changed because of growing concern over binge drinking and its health impact.

"The mood is now more conducive to lowering the limit, which has widespread support.

"Lowering the limit may not affect those who are two or three times over the limit, but it will have a sobering effect on those at or just over the current limit."

Adrian Tink, of the RAC, said: "The RAC absolutely backs moving the drink-drive limit in the UK from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.

"W
hen 14,350 casualties, and over 500 deaths, were caused by drink driving in 2006 alone, there is no reason why the Government won't bring the limit in line with the rest of Europe."

He added: "There also needs to be stronger penalties for convicted drink-drivers to act as a deterrent. Motorists want the roads to be safer and they want to feel like the Government is taking drink-driving seriously."

Cathy Keeler, of road safety charity Brake, said: "Current traffic policing levels are still disgracefully low. Improved enforcement can only be truly effective in tandem with a lower drink-drive limit."

Ministers will consult on the measures after the May local government elections in England.

Whitehall sources said that the limit could be lowered within 18 months because it does not require primary legislation, but could be done by means of a simple Government regulation.

Scotsman