Road Safety Charity Fights To Lower Legal Drink Drive Levels

Wednesday, 28. April 2010

Road safety charity Brake carried out a poll to see how much support existed for the dropping of the drink drive alcohol limit from 80mg per 100 ml to 50, in line with most of Europe. Their findings showed a 70% support which has prompted the Government to take action and consider dropping the level which would criminalise the Sunday pint in a country pub according to an article in Auto Express. But they found flaws in the poll and the way it was carried out suggesting that support for the drop in the limit would be much less than that shown. In the meantime the Government has an ongoing independent investigation that is likely to tip the balance in favour of the drop. Whilst Auto Express is not suggesting that they support drink driving, they don’t, but like the laws on the use of mobile phones whilst driving, the current legislation should be more actively enforced. The RAC and the Conservatives see no reason to change the current legislation but support greater enforcement of the current legislation. When questioned, Brake explained their method of surveying 800 respondents, which was subsequently criticised by the Market Research Society as giving ‘Cause for concern.’ By Graham Hill