Cut Drink Drive Limit, Urges BMA Cymru Wales. UK

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 07 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Doctors' leaders in Wales renewed their call for a reduction in the permitted blood alcohol level for driving.

The BMA's call comes as this summer's Police Drink and Drug Driving Campaign to target irresponsible and dangerous drivers began in all 43 police forces across England and Wales was unveiled.

The BMA wants to see the maximum level reduced from 80 mg per 100 ml to 50mg.

BMA Welsh Secretary, Dr Richard Lewis said: "We believe that a further reduction in blood alcohol concentrations will prevent deaths and reduce the number of lives ruined by drinking drivers.

"The introduction of the current limit, backed up by police enforcement and TV and media education campaigns, led to a dramatic fall in the number of deaths on the road, but the position has been stagnant since 1993. We need a new impetus to reduce the toll of injury and death."

There is strong evidence that driving skills become impaired once any alcohol has been consumed and get worse the more someone drinks. Experience from Australia demonstrates that a reduction in the permitted blood alcohol limit does lead to a reduction in drink driving.

The BMA is not suggesting a zero limit because there will be cases where an individual would register slightly above zero even when they had not been drinking (diabetes and the use of mouthwash can both cause an above-zero level). The BMA doubts whether an absolute zero would be enforceable and acceptable to the public but argues that a 50mg level, which would bring the UK into line with many other European countries, would be effective and beneficial.

The BMA argues that a reduction in the blood alcohol limit could have some impact even without additional measures, but to achieve a dramatic reduction in drink driving, the reduced limit should be backed by random breath testing and renewed efforts to make driving after even one drink socially unacceptable.

http://www.bma.org.uk