Drink-drive limit reduction urged

A lowering of the legal alcohol limit for drivers is expected to be recommended
12 April 2012

A lowering of the legal alcohol limit for drivers is expected to be recommended in a Whitehall-commissioned report.

The study, from Sir Peter North, will also propose changes to existing drink-drive and drug-drive procedures.

It is thought that Sir Peter will recommend the existing drink-drive limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood be reduced to 50mg.

This will put the UK in line with most of Europe. However, it is believed that the new Government is wary of changing the limit.

Sir Peter was asked by former Labour transport secretary Lord Adonis to examine possible changes to the drink- and drug-driving legislative regime.

His report went to new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond last month and is being made public later on Wednesday.

It is already illegal to drive while impaired by a drug but a new offence might make it illegal to drive with named drugs in the system at specified levels.

For both drink and drugs, the report has considered the likely impacts of any changes on driver behaviour, and the practical steps needed to support introduction of any new or revised offence.

Earlier this year, Lord Adonis was quoted as saying he believed Sir Peter would recommend a change in the drink-drive law.

The then shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers was quoted as saying that she was not convinced a change would be justified.

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