Our view on calls from the Police Federation for a reduction in the drink-drive limit in England and Wales

RAC chief engineer David Bizley: “While it’s important to remember that there has been a steady reduction in the number of drink-drive casualties in recent years, thousands of people are still injured or killed on our roads as a result of someone being over the legal limit. The issue clearly remains a highly charged one, with more than a third of motorists telling us that they want to see the limit in England and Wales brought into line with Scotland, and almost a quarter wanting to go the way of some other European countries with a zero limit. Nine out of ten motorists also said that having different drink-drive limits north and south of the border was a recipe for confusion.

“The Government says that tackling drink-driving in England and Wales is a priority, but the simple question is now this – with a significant weight of opinion behind a reduction in the limit, are there any solid reasons to oppose one?

“Aside from a new limit, the other side to reducing drink-driving is greater enforcement of the existing law – something that the RAC called into question in February when we revealed the 23% drop in the numbers of full time traffic police officers on our roads.”

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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

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