British drivers support lower drink-drive limit

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 19 December, 2014

Three quarters (74%) of UK drivers support a lower drink-drive limit, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line insurance.

Three quarters (74%) of UK drivers support a lower drink-drive limit, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line Insurance.

drink driving Britons support calls for lower drink drive limits, according to a survey

Earlier this month, Scotland lowered its limit to 50mg of alcohol/100ml of blood, a limit which is also set to come into force in Northern Ireland next year.

England and Wales still have a limit of 80mg/100ml, making it one of the highest in Europe.

The survey's main findings showed:

31% of drivers said the rest of the UK should match Scotland's lower limit

43% called for the UK to go further and introduce a 20mg/100ml - effectively zero-tolerance - which is currently the case in a number of EU countries, including road safety leaders Sweden

26% said the current limit of 80mg/100ml should remain as it is - this is the highest level in the EU, used only in the UK and Malta.

Brake is calling on the government to make a zero-tolerance 20mg/100ml drink drive limit a key manifesto commitment for next year's general election. It cites evidence that even 20-50mg/100ml alcohol in your blood makes you at least three times more likely to be killed in a crash. It says this could help stop the estimated 65 deaths a year caused by drivers who drink but are under the legal limit.

Brake is also renewing calls in the run-up to Christmas for the public to show zero tolerance on drink driving and pledge to never drive on any amount of alcohol.

The survey also found widespread support (95%) for tougher measures to tackle repear drink drive offenders.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: "It is often said that the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, but there is no room for complacency, not least on drink driving, which remains one of the biggest killers. The UK has now slipped off the top of the European road safety rankings, and without critical progress, including the introduction of a zero-tolerance drink drive limit, we will be left further behind."

Rob Miles, director of motor at Direct Line, said: "Many people don't really know what the legal limit actually means in terms of how much you can drink. Our advice is not even to take the risk - if you're driving, it's not that great a hardship just to stick to soft drinks for the evening. If you've had a large glass of wine and are wondering if you're over the limit, you're better off not driving at all."

Both Diageo and Pernod Ricard have launched anti drink-driving campaigns this festive season.

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