Drink drive limit to be reviewed by expert

New moves by the Government could see a possible reduction of the legal drink-drive limit, with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis asking legal expert Sir Peter North to advise on the case for changes to the limit and stricter laws.

The present legal-drink drive limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, however there has been increasing support for a lowering of the limit to 50mg.

Lord Adonis said that Sir Peter would advise on whether to reduce the current limit or ad a new, lower limit with an associated revised penalty scheme.

Presently, anyone caught driving over the limit faces and automatic 12-month ban, and if Sir Peter recommends a 50mg limit but drivers caught, for example, between 50mg and 80mg would not automatically be banned.

Sir Peter would also advise on whether there is a need for new legislation on drug driving.  It is currently illegal to drive a vehicle while impaired by a drug, but a new offence might make it illegal to drive with certain drugs in the system at specified levels, in a way that it is already an offence to drive with a specified blood alcohol level.

The announcements come following the launch of a £1.2 million Christmas anti drink driving campaign.