UK May Lower Drink Drive Limit For First Time Since 1967

Motoring experts and health professionals in the United Kingdom have teamed up to propose ‘sensible’ revisions to the country’s drink-driving laws. The British Medical Association (BMA) proposed several practical suggestions that garnered support from various charities, road groups and motoring experts, reported The Daily Express. John Kushnick, Legal Operations Director at National Accident Helpline, believes that the new rules could bring long-term benefits. Currently, the UK’s law permits an alcohol limit of 80mg per 100ml of blood since 1967. However, the BMA recommends lowering this limit to 20mg for commercial drivers and newly qualified licence holders, to enhance road safety across the country.

In a conversation with the UK daily, Kushnick said, “Lobbying for the next government to reduce England’s drink-driving limit is a wholly positive movement. We’re seeing tragic consequences from people continually getting behind the wheel when they know they are over the limit. Accidents are often caused by people who are aware they’re not in a fit state to drive but take the chance anyway. It is also the case that drivers overestimate how much they are allowed to drink before going over the drink-driving limit.”

In addition to solutions like stricter law enforcement, more robust implementation and better awareness of the rules, the BMA has also suggested reducing the alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.

The medical association has also recommended that the limit should be further lowered for new and commercial drivers to just 20mg.

In response to deaths linked to drunk driving in recent years, at least 17 organisations have shown their support for the newly suggested drink-driving limits. The British Medical Association, in a statement, claimed that alcohol and drug-related harm, particularly when driving, puts unnecessary pressure on individuals, society emergency services, the NHS and the economy. They argue that reducing these risks through strict new rules could improve these burdens.

According to earlier data from the insurance comparison website Confused, July stands out as the worst month for drunk driving in the UK. In July 2022 alone, police arrested 4,217 individuals, while the majority of cases happened in London, Northern Ireland and Somerset.