DRINKING AND DRIVING

Over the last ten years, there has been a gradual decline in the number of drink drive fatalities, from 780 in 1979 to 546 in 1994. There is evidence to suggest that there may be an increasing problem of drinking and driving among the 24-29 and 45-55 age groups.

In order to retain the current low level, or reduce the incidence of drinking and driving further, LARSOA believes that the government, local authorities and other relevant organisations should continue to campaign on drink drive issues.

LARSOA supports the introduction of a lower blood/alcohol limit and will seek to influence Parliament to lower it from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml and press for the rest of the European Community to set this as a maximum level.

The Association supports routine breath testing at the scene of all road accidents. LARSOA encourages research to determine the extent to which drugs (soft/hard/medicinal) contribute to road accidents and seeks to influence the Home Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the police to sanction such investigations.

LARSOA supports the brewing industry in its endeavours to address the issue of drinking and driving and seeks to influence them:
• to continue to promote their products in a responsible manner.
• to consider introducing a universal symbol to indicate alcoholic content.
• to label their products clearly, especially alcoholic ‘soft’ drinks.
• to provide cheaper non-alcoholic drinks.

The Association also encourages the media to portray and report drink drive issues responsibly.

THE ROLE OF THE RSO
The road safety officer should:
• encourage local businesses (including their own employers) and other organisations to have drink drive guidelines for staff
• work in partnership with health colleagues to promote drink drive or alcohol initiatives.
• seek to influence local passenger transport providers to provide accessible and safe transport during 'social' hours
• encourage controlling licensing authorities to review their codes of practice in order to allow for greater passenger capacities and increased hours of operation
• equip schools to undertake education programmes with their pupils, including drink/drive issues
• support the DETR publicity campaigns

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Click here to contact Road Safety GB administrator Brian Hogarth or ring 0033 553 2021 76.