RAC welcomes new road safety measures announced for Northern Ireland

RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “The RAC warmly welcomes news that new road safety measures have been passed today by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Northern Ireland will now follow Scotland, which reduced its drink drive limit in December 2014 in having a drink drive level more on par with countries in Europe. Lower drink drive limits are supported by motorists, with more than half (56%) of motorists supporting a reduction in the blood-alcohol limit to 50mg/100ml or less from the current 80mg/100ml level according to the 2015 RAC Report on Motoring. If the lower limits in Northern Ireland and Scotland result in fewer road traffic accident casualties, ​ ​ the UK Government should follow suit and adopt the ​ lower limit across the England and Wales.

“The introduction of a new Graduated Driver Licensing Scheme in Northern Ireland is also a positive move in an effort to improve the skills of young drivers and to cut the number of young drivers involved in road traffic collisions. Young drivers make up a small proportion of UK licence holders, but are involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal and serious accidents. If the system is a success, this should encourage the UK Government to consider introducing similar measures in Great Britain in order to help reduce ​ young driver casualties.”

Press office team

Press office team

For journalist enquiries only

Share

Latest News

Website preview
Second month of lower fuel prices as petrol and diesel fall by 2p a litre in April
RAC calls for further cuts at the pumps to reflect lower wholesale costs
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
RAC rolls out mechanic apprenticeships nationwide in industry first
Students across England can now become patrols or RAC Mobile Mechanics through the ‘RAC Academy’
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
Drivers planning a million more leisure trips by car this May Day bank holiday
The number of getaway journeys on major roads is up on last year despite Easter still fresh in people’s minds
media.rac.co.uk

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About RAC Media Centre

The RAC Media Centre provides journalists and news outlets with the latest motoring-related news, comment, data and research.

The RAC is an iconic UK brand, and provides complete peace of mind to nearly 14 million UK private and business drivers - whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app