GEM Motoring Assist says the Government must now accept that the drink-drive limit in England and Wales is too high after new research was published.

The road safety and breakdown organisation is calling for an immediate commitment to reduce the limit, combined with increased police activity to enforce the law.

The ‘Fit to Drive’ report, which was publsihed last week by the Parliamentary Advisory Committee for Transport Safety (PACTS), shows that alcohol impairment continues to be a major contributory factor to crashes. Around 4.5 fatal collisions every week in 2013 (the most recent figures available) were related to drink-driving.

GEM chief executive David Williams said: “It’s believed that reducing the limit from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml would save around 25 lives and 95 serious injuries every year.

“Additionally, there is excellent technology available to make simple, effective roadside breath tests a reality.

“After all, it is now 11 years since Parliament made provision for roadside evidential breath-testing, which would greatly increase the number of tests carried out by police officers, and reduce the vast burden of paperwork which accompanies every positive breath test.

“Drink-driving remains a significant threat to the safety of all road users, but there are effective steps to help reduce this threat.

“Reducing the drink-drive limit should be the number one priority, as this would bring clear and significant road safety benefits.

“Supporting this should be modern alcohol testing equipment that helps police officers do their job more efficiently.

“The Government needs to take a strong lead to help prevent the unnecessary death, injury and misery that’s too often a consequence of someone’s irresponsible decision to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.”