Around 16,000 road-traffic injuries and 170 deaths could be prevented in the first year if the government lowers the blood alcohol limit for drivers, says a new study of the drink-drive laws. The current legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. However several countries around the world have cut this threshold to 50mg/100ml with clear improvements to road safety.
For example, in fifteen countries in Europe, the introduction of a 50mg/100ml limit collectively led to 11.5% fewer alcohol-related driving deaths among 18 to 25 year olds - the age group most at risk of being involved in an accident. In Australia's Queensland the measure led to 18% fewer deaths on the roads.
The study has been carried out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), on behalf of the Department for Transport. The report does not represent NICE guidance.
Professor Mike Kelly, Director of Public Health Excellence at NICE said:
"Overall, the international evidence indicates that lowering the BAC limit from 80mg to 50mg could reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries in the UK. Not only could it have a positive impact on those who regularly drink well above the current limit before driving, but it also has the potential to make everyone think twice about having a drink before they decide to drive somewhere."
"However, for this measure to effectively change people's attitudes to drink-driving and improve road safety in the long term, it must be supported by ongoing publicity, as well as visible and rapid enforcement. According to the evidence, current efforts do not appear to be a strong enough deterrent as many drivers do not believe that they will ever be caught or sanctioned."
"We therefore hope that our findings will provide the government with an important basis for informing its policy considerations on changing the current drink-driving legislation."
Source
NICE
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