Road Safety GB welcomes North Review findings
Sir Peter North Recommends Reduction of Drink-Drive Limit from 80mg to 50mg
Road Safety GB, the road safety organisation that represents over 200 Local Authority Road Safety Teams across the UK, has welcomed the recommendations of the North Review which were published today.
The independent report examines the current law on drink and drug driving and has been in preparation by Sir Peter North CBE QC since consultation began in December 2009. Sir Peter has recommended a series of changes including:
• The reduction of the drink drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg – with anyone caught above the new limit facing an automatic 12-month driving ban.
• Novice drivers having an alcohol limit of just 20mg
• The introduction of random breath testing.
• The removal of the right for drivers to demand a second breathalyser test at the police station
• The introduction of a separate law for drug driving.
• The simplification of the process for taking samples for drug tests.
If implemented, the changes would bring UK legislation on blood alcohol levels into line with a majority of European countries including France and Germany. More stringent legislation for motorists driving under the influence of drugs would position the UK alongside Sweden, Finland and France at the forefront of the European fight against drug driving.
Alan Kennedy, Chairman of Road Safety GB said: “Each year hundreds of people die at the hands of drink drivers, yet the UK currently has some of the most lenient drink driving laws in Europe – we are one of only five countries in the EU with a legal limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Drug driving is also a serious and growing problem, with ill-defined legislation creating a high degree of public confusion surrounding the topic.
“Sir Peter North’s recommendations would bring the UK into line with drink and drug driving legislation in many other European Union countries – this is a great opportunity to significantly reduce the number of deaths on our roads and we urge central government to accept the findings set-out in the North Review.”
The North Review indicates that the long-term impact of the suggested changes on driver behaviour will be high and contribute to the continuing reduction of the level of casualties on British roads that has been taking place over the last decade. The DfT’s estimated quarterly figures, from July to September 2009, show that for the year ending September 2009, road casualties were down 5% compared to the previous 12 months, with fatalities down 7%.
Alan continued: “I was delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to this review, on behalf of Road Safety GB.
“We welcome particularly the proposal to reduce the level of alcohol a driver is permitted.
“Like many others we feel that to consume any alcohol prior to driving is irresponsible. We realise, however, that for physiological reasons a zero level is impractical.
“The proposed level of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood is probably the right level for practical roadside detection and, as well as preventing hundreds of deaths and serious injuries, will bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe.”
For more information, please contact Peter Wrathmell or Max Howard at SKV Communications on firstname.lastname@skvcommunications.co.uk or 0161 838 7770.
Notes to editors:
• Road Safety GB (formerly LARSOA) is a national road safety organisation that represents local government road safety teams across the UK.
• Road Safety GB supports RSOs in fulfilling their statutory role - to reduce the number and severity of road accidents through education, training and publicity policies and programmes.
• Road Safety GB seeks to influence national debate - government policy and action, and public opinion - and works with other organisations to achieve common goals.
Legal Blood Alcohol Levels per 100ml of blood in European countries:
|
EUROPE |
|
|
Country |
Blood Alcohol Levels |
|
Czech Republic |
0.0mg |
|
Estonia |
0.0mg |
|
Hungary |
0.0mg |
|
Malta |
0.0mg |
|
Romania |
0.0mg |
|
Slovakia |
0.0mg |
|
Norway |
0.2mg |
|
Poland |
0.2mg |
|
Sweden |
0.2mg |
|
Lithuania |
0.4mg |
|
Austria |
0.5mg |
|
Belgium |
0.5mg |
|
Bulgaria |
0.5mg |
|
Croatia |
0.5mg |
|
Cyprus |
0.5mg |
|
Denmark |
0.5mg |
|
Finland |
0.5mg |
|
France |
0.5mg |
|
Greece |
0.5mg |
|
Italy |
0.5mg |
|
Latvia |
0.5mg |
|
Macedonia |
0.5mg |
|
Netherlands |
0.5mg |
|
Portugal |
0.5mg |
|
Serbia/Montenegro |
0.5mg |
|
Slovenia |
0.5mg |
|
Spain |
0.5mg |
|
Turkey |
0.5mg |
|
Germany |
0.5mg (0.3 if in accident) |
|
Ireland |
0.8mg |
|
Luxembourgh |
0.8mg |
|
Malta |
0.8mg |
|
Switzerland |
0.8mg |
|
UK |
0.8mg |
|
Cyprus (South) |
0.9mg |
