A landmark change to the drink-driving limit, the first in over 50 years, is among a series of proposed amendments to traffic regulations currently under review. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is reportedly considering proposals that would see the drink-drive limit in England and Wales lowered from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to just 22 micrograms.
This adjustment would bring England and Wales in line with Scotland, which reduced its own drink-drive limit in 2014, and the rest of Europe, where no other country maintains such a high threshold. Under these new proposals, an average man would be restricted to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine, while women would be limited to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine. It’s important to remember that alcohol can linger in your system for quite some time after drinking, meaning you could still be over the limit the morning after a night out.
However, the impact of alcohol can vary greatly between individuals due to factors such as weight, age, metabolism, and whether or not you’ve eaten.
The number of fatalities resulting from drink-driving incidents has seen a significant increase over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022.
This worrying trend has raised concerns that current road safety measures are no longer effective, according to the Manchester Evening News. The last time the drink-driving limit was changed was in 1967, with the introduction of the Road Safety Act.
Ministers are expected to streamline police prosecutions for drug-driving by allowing them to rely on roadside saliva tests as evidence, rather than blood analyses.
There has been a shocking 78% increase in the number of drivers killed on Britain’s roads over the past decade who were found to have drugs in their system.
AA president, Edmund King, said targeting drink and drug drivers is a “practical step that can make a real difference”.
“The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade.
“We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone.”
The government is also considering other proposals such as harsher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seatbelt. A full fresh road safety strategy is set to be unveiled this autumn.