RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

January 7, 1999
TOUGHER DRINK-DRIVE LAWS PLEA FROM RoSPA

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR DRINK DRIVE FIGURES COMMENT

Despite improvements in Christmas drink-drive figures, further action is still needed to make it clear drinking and driving will not be tolerated, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today.

"Campaigns by Government and police have led to reductions in positive breath tests over the holiday period, but thousands of motorists are still acting irresponsibly," Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, said.

"We need to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg and then in the longer term move towards what is effectively a zero limit.

"We have to overcome the mentality which makes people think it is safe to drink up to the legal limit

"More work needs to be done to educate the public about the dangers of drinking and driving so that they realise that even one drink will undermine driving performance.

"Far too many drivers are still prepared to gamble with lives and licences, and one answer would appear to be tougher laws.

"Even though there has been some improvement in the figures, many drivers are too selfish to consider the consequences of their actions.

"They are either so arrogant that they believe that a drink will not affect their driving, or they see arranging another form of transport as an inconvenience which they should not have to tolerate."