The UK’s drink driving limit could be set to shrink to the equivalent of “one small drink.”
A clamour for lower drink-driving limits in England is being led by medics, who suggest that it should equate to a minuscule glass of wine or beer. This potential change receives backing from both motoring groups and road experts, with all political parties being urged to adopt it before the General Election.
The current regulation, which indicates an 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood limit, was set in 1967. The British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed its intentions to pressure the upcoming government into lowering the limit by nearly half for the average person, adjusting it to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 0.05%.
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Furthermore, the limit could be slashed even further to 20mg for novice and commercial drivers. Representing the BMA, Carrie Reidinger, an officer for population health policy advice and research, said: “We think it’s really important to call on government to lower the legal [use of alcohol]. This is in line with the approach taken by many European countries such as Ireland and Greece.”
Reiterating their stance, the BMA issued a statement saying: “Harm caused by alcohol and other drugs, including when driving under the influence, places an avoidable burden on individuals and our society, emergency services, the NHS, and the economy.
“Therefore, the BMA, in collaboration with a range of organisations representing medical professional bodies, alcohol and road safety charities and campaign groups, police and emergency services, and others, have developed this consensus statement setting out key actions that are needed to tackle this issue.”, reports Birmingham Live.
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Lucy Straker, a campaigns manager at Brake, expressed: “We are proud to be a part of this consensus calling for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit … Road death is sudden, it’s traumatic and it sends shock waves across families, communities and workplaces, and changes lives for ever.”
“Every year more than 200 people die in drink-driving-related crashes, with a further 1,600 being seriously injured with a lot of these being innocent road users who haven’t had anything to drink.
“All of this puts a tremendous strain on our emergency services which can be reduced by lowering the limit.”
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