None for the road! Drink-drive limit in England and Wales slashed

Drink-drive limits in England and Wales are set to get even stricter. As part of its new Road Safety Strategy, the Government has announced that the maximum legal blood-alcohol content for drivers will be lowered to match that in Scotland.

Currently in England and Wales, the limit stands at 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, the proposed changes will reduce this to just 50 milligrammes, matching the lower limit that’s been in place in Scotland since 2014. It is unclear when these changes will be implemented, though.

Lower drink-drive limit for new drivers

That’s not all, as the strategy is also expected to reduce the limit for novice drivers – ie those within two years of passing their test – to just 20 milligrammes. This will come alongside other restrictions for new drivers including a mandatory three or six-month learning period – something that will be confirmed following a consultation.

Finally, the Government says repeat drink-drive offenders could be forced to use an alcohol interlock if they ever wish to drive again. These devices prevent the car from being started if the driver does not pass a breathalyser test.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, described the plan as a “turning point” for road safety.

“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled,” Alexander said. “We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade."

Such changes have been welcomed by road safety campaigners given that in 2023 (the latest figures available at this moment in time) roughly 1,860 people were killed or seriously injured in incidents involving a drink-driver. This marks only a three per cent decline from 2022 and is significantly higher than the 1,100 in 2013.

Head of road policy at the RAC, Simon Williams, said: “Drivers tell us they strongly support more being done to cut the harm caused by drink and, increasingly, drug-drivers – and this includes reducing England’s drink-drive limit, with only one-in-five drivers thinking it should remain as it is.”

Williams also applauded the Government’s interest in alcolocks: “Given a lower limit is unlikely to deter those people who are intent on driving while impaired, the commitment to investigate the benefits of alcolocks is an equally significant step forward in making the roads safer,” he said. “This technology is globally proven to save lives by preventing convicted drink-drivers from getting behind the wheel drunk again.”

Outside of the changes outlined above, the Government is also making sight-test rules for over-70s drivers stricter, meaning you could lose your licence if you fail. Penalty points for passengers not wearing a seatbelt are also being introduced, as is more enforcement surrounding ghost licence plate and uninsured drivers.

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