Welcome for tougher drink and drug driving advice

Date: 3/12/2010

A road safety charity has welcomed recommendations made by a body of MPs regarding drink and drug driving in the UK.

Brake claims the suggestions from the House of Commons Transport Select Committee should be implemented as soon as possible, in particular a lower limit on drink driving of 20 micrograms (mg) per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath.

Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend stated: "Research, along with evidence from other countries, indicates that lowering our drink drive limit and dramatically stepping up enforcement would be effective in preventing casualties on our roads."

The current drink drive rate stands at 35 mg/100 ml of breath or 80 mg/100 ml of blood, with the cross-party group of MPs also calling on the government for more police enforcement of the law and extension of current powers to allow testing of motorists without suspecting impairment.

In addition, the politicians recommend more extensive campaigns to raise awareness and greater efforts to detect drug drivers and develop technology to assist with this.

Posted by Sarah Bailey