Drink-drive limit needs to be lowered, finds government study

17 February 2021

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) has put together a report which claims “a lower limit would have a totemic impact and long-term benefit. The dangers of driving with even low levels of drink and drugs make a lower limit more relevant”. We at Marshall Minibus leasing are pleased to see PACTS highlighting the serious impact of drink driving and calling for change.

In England and Wales, the drink-driving limit stands at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. This is the highest limit of any country in Europe.

According to the government’s Reported drinking and driving (RAS51) report, published on February 6 2021, there were 8,680 casualties as a result of drink driving in 2018 – an increase on the year prior (2017). In fact, there has been almost no progress in reducing drink-driving accidents in the last decade.

Worse still, 17% (107,913) of drink drive offences were committed by repeat offenders.

PACTS executive director David Davies said, “After 10 years of declining levels of enforcement and social media campaigns aimed at young men, it is time for a new, more comprehensive approach to reducing the toll of drink drive deaths and injuries.

“The problem is not a simple one of law enforcement. It requires a more comprehensive approach. The legal limit should be reduced in England and Wales, police should be given additional powers to test drivers, the High Risk Offender Scheme should be reformed, rehabilitation courses should be designed for those with mental health and alcohol problems, and the growing danger of combining drink and drugs driving needs to be addressed.

“A lower limit is not a magic bullet but government polices to reduce drink driving will lack credibility as long as they avoid this change.”