27.09.11
Drink drive limit to be lowered in NI
The environment minister for Northern Ireland, Alex Attwood, has proposed to cut the blood alcohol limit for driving from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml. Plans also include a lower limit of 20mg/100ml for young drivers and people who earn their living by driving.
The 50mg limit is the law in several other EU countries, but would put NI on a different legal level to the UK. Over the past year, 75 people have been killed, and 463 seriously injured by drivers who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Attwood said: “This is totally unacceptable and I am determined to do what I can to tackle this issue once and for all.
“I have listened to the public on this. There is widespread public support for a step change in how we deal with drink drivers and I believe that what I am proposing will make a real difference.”
Dr Paul Darragh, chairman of the BMA’s Council in Northern Ireland, said: “Reducing the blood alcohol limit to 50mg/100ml, and even less for young drivers, is a very positive step forward to help reduce the carnage on our roads.
“This would essentially mean that a driver should not drink any alcohol whatsoever before getting behind the wheel. In reality, there is no such thing as a safe limit. We hope that Minister Attwood’s proposals will further deter those who think it is ok to have a drink then get behind the wheel.”
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