Britons are overwhelmingly in support of the Government’s proposal to introduce stricter drink-driving laws, according to a new report.
A survey of 2,000 adults by breathalyser firm AlcoSense found that 87 per cent believe stricter laws are needed to stop people getting behind the wheel under the influence.
It comes as the Government’s Road Safety Strategy consultation is due to close next month, with ministers garnering feedback from the public and industry on a range of measures designed to reduce traffic deaths in Britain.
This includes the introduction of mandatory eye tests every three years for drivers over 70, minimum six-month learning periods before new drivers can take their test, the requirement for new models to have a raft of new-era safety features installed, and the threat of points for drivers whose passengers fail to wear a seatbelt.
The poll found that over three quarters (78 per cent) of people want the existing drink-drive limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to be slashed. One in three said it should be lowered to 50mg, in line with Scotland.
But half of those surveyed said it should be lowered further still to just 20mg – or even zero.
A new survey of 2,000 adults found that 87% believe stricter laws are needed to stop people getting behind the wheel under the influence
With England and Wales currently having one of the most lenient drink-drive limits across Europe, reports suggest ministers are swinging towards a 50mg restriction to bring consistency with laws north of the border – and also in-line with rules in France.
It would mean that even one pint of beer would likely tip a motorist over the limit.
For new drivers who have held a licence for less than two years, an even lower limit is under consideration.
In Sweden, which has a 20mg restriction, it is effectively a ‘zero tolerance’ policy with experts saying any amount of beer consumption – no matter how small – would likely trigger a positive breathalyser reading.
The latest data published by the Department for Transport show there were 260 fatalities in drink drive accidents in 2023 – with a total of 6,310 people injured by motorists over the limit.
Minister see a clampdown on drink driving as one of the most effective ways of reducing stagnating road casualty statistics, which have remained relatively flat for over a decade.
AlcoSense managing director Hunter Abbott said the findings from the study suggest a ‘shift in public attitudes’ towards drink driving.
‘People are clearly saying the current system isn’t tough enough,’ he said. ‘There is staunch support not only for lowering the alcohol limit, but also for giving police the powers they need to deal with offenders quickly and effectively.
‘England and Wales currently have the highest drink-drive limit in Europe. These findings suggest that many people no longer see that as acceptable, particularly when the risks are so well understood.’
The call for stricter limits is even greater when applied to higher-risk groups.
Around two-thirds of those surveyed believe commercial drivers should be subject to a 20mg or zero limit, with a similar proportion saying the same should apply to novice drivers.
The research also suggests that the public sees enforcement as just as important as the legal limit itself.
Most respondents (58 per cent) said the most effective way to tackle drink driving would be to combine a lower limit with more robust police enforcement, rather than relying on either approach alone.
‘There is a clear recognition that changing the law on its own is not enough,’ Abbott said. ‘People want to see proper enforcement alongside it, so that the rules have real impact in practice.’
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The survey, which included questions similar to those being explored in the Government’s consultation closing on 11 May, also found firm backing for tougher action in the most serious cases. More than eight in ten said drivers under investigation for drink or drug driving offences involving a fatality or serious injury should have their licence suspended pending a court hearing.
Abbott said this reflected growing public concern about road safety and a desire for more decisive intervention.
‘There is a clear expectation that those who may pose a risk should not be allowed to continue driving while legal proceedings are ongoing,’ he said.
