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| 'No plan' for England and Wales drink-drive limit change | 'No plan' for England and Wales drink-drive limit change |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There are no plans to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland, the Department for Transport has said. | There are no plans to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland, the Department for Transport has said. |
| Transport minister Andrew Jones told MPs he was to assess whether Scotland's 2014 move had an impact on road safety. | Transport minister Andrew Jones told MPs he was to assess whether Scotland's 2014 move had an impact on road safety. |
| But the DfT later confirmed it was not undertaking a review to also move the legal level down from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. | But the DfT later confirmed it was not undertaking a review to also move the legal level down from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. |
| Motoring groups said most drivers supported a lower limit. | Motoring groups said most drivers supported a lower limit. |
| Mr Jones said: "The government believes rigorous enforcement and serious penalties for drink-drivers are a more effective deterrent than changing the drink-driving limit. | Mr Jones said: "The government believes rigorous enforcement and serious penalties for drink-drivers are a more effective deterrent than changing the drink-driving limit. |
| "Britain continues to have some of the safest roads in the world because we crack down on those who break the law." | "Britain continues to have some of the safest roads in the world because we crack down on those who break the law." |
| Speculation about a potential law change emerged on Tuesday when, in response to a written parliamentary question, Mr Jones said: "It is important to base our decisions on evidence and the Scottish experience will be crucial to that before we consider any possible changes to the limits in England and Wales." | Speculation about a potential law change emerged on Tuesday when, in response to a written parliamentary question, Mr Jones said: "It is important to base our decisions on evidence and the Scottish experience will be crucial to that before we consider any possible changes to the limits in England and Wales." |
| The current 80mg limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - equivalent to 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - is higher than most other European countries. | The current 80mg limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - equivalent to 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - is higher than most other European countries. |
| Northern Ireland is consulting on whether to lower its limit to 50mg for most motorists, with an effective zero limit for learner, novice and professional drivers. | Northern Ireland is consulting on whether to lower its limit to 50mg for most motorists, with an effective zero limit for learner, novice and professional drivers. |
| 'Hard-core offenders' | 'Hard-core offenders' |
| Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "It would be a poor argument to say cut the drink-drive limit just because others have done it, but there is now plenty of data to suggest a change would have a marked improvement in road safety terms." | Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "It would be a poor argument to say cut the drink-drive limit just because others have done it, but there is now plenty of data to suggest a change would have a marked improvement in road safety terms." |
| Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: "A majority of AA members support a lower limit and it seems a sensible step to bring us into line with Scotland and the majority of European countries. | Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: "A majority of AA members support a lower limit and it seems a sensible step to bring us into line with Scotland and the majority of European countries. |
| "However, it would probably be more effective for the police to target hard-core offenders who are way over the current limit as they are involved in the most deaths and injuries on the road." | "However, it would probably be more effective for the police to target hard-core offenders who are way over the current limit as they are involved in the most deaths and injuries on the road." |
| Mr King added with a lower limit drivers "also have to be aware of being over the limit the morning after". | |
| Because everyone has a different susceptibility to alcohol, health experts say it is difficult to quantify exactly how many units can be drunk by drivers. For the average man, a 50mg limit would mean they could consume just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and for women, half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine. | Because everyone has a different susceptibility to alcohol, health experts say it is difficult to quantify exactly how many units can be drunk by drivers. For the average man, a 50mg limit would mean they could consume just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and for women, half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine. |
| A spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association said it believed the current limit in England and Wales was "well understood" by the public. | A spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association said it believed the current limit in England and Wales was "well understood" by the public. |
| "We have some of the safest roads in Europe and key to that is education, awareness and tough enforcement," he added. | "We have some of the safest roads in Europe and key to that is education, awareness and tough enforcement," he added. |