Many UK drivers are now in favour of a zero tolerance solution, where even a single alcoholic drink could render a driver unfit to drive.
With the current limit set at 35 micrograms of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath in England, drivers want to see the limit reduced to at least 22 micrograms to match new Scottish limits, or even bring it down to zero, according to the poll by leasing firm Flexed.co.uk.
"Last Christmas saw the numbers of people failing road-side breath tests falling," said spokesperson Mark Hall, "but it's clear that the majority want to drive boozers off the road completely."
Flexed.co.uk asked 3891 drivers in England and Wales for their opinions on drink-drive limits, and found:
- 23% wanted the limit to stay as it is
- 31% want the limit to be reduced to match the lower Scottish threshold
- 46% want to see the drink-drive limit reduced to zero
Police forces in England and Wales say that – in general – the number of drivers caught drinking and driving fell over the Christmas period. In the West Midlands, for example, 225 failed a breath test or did not provide a specimen, down from 363 during the same period in 2013.
"Despite the fall in numbers, around one-in-ten people breathalysed were over the limit," says Hall. "That's a frightening statistic when you sit down and think about it."
Hall says reducing drink-drive limits would bring England and Wales into line with Europe where stricter limits already apply. "And a zero tolerance policy wouldn't be unusual – some countries already have that in law, and we'd be setting a fantastic example by joining them."
AJB - 28/01/2015 12:34
Take a look at the sample size - is this really representative?? see no %age drop in DD quoted - it is actually 38% which IS significant. What are flexed selling ?