Drink driving – questions from the Bishop of St Albans

On 17th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith received answers to two written questions, on lowering the drink-drive limit:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for driving from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.[HL3742]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government currently has no plans to alter the drink drive limit. We currently have tough penalties to tackle drink driving and the Government believes increased enforcement is a more effective deterrent than a change in the law. We are removing the automatic right for drivers who fail a breathalyser test to demand a blood or urine test. High risk offenders are now also required to prove they are no longer alcohol-dependent before being allowed to drive.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the research on the basis of which the Scottish Government has decided to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for driving from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.[HL3741]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Sir Peter North looked at the possibility of altering drink driving limits and delivered his findings in a report in 2010. The Government provided a formal response to the report in March 2011. The Government’s response acknowledged some of the proposed benefits of lowering the drink drive limit to 50mg, however, we concluded that the priority should be tougher enforcement.

(via Parliament.uk)

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