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| Lower drink-drive limit, Police Federation says | Lower drink-drive limit, Police Federation says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The drink-drive limit in England and Wales should be cut and more done to discourage women from driving while drunk, the Police Federation has said. | The drink-drive limit in England and Wales should be cut and more done to discourage women from driving while drunk, the Police Federation has said. |
| It wants the limit to be reduced from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - in line with changes introduced in Scotland in 2014. | It wants the limit to be reduced from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood - in line with changes introduced in Scotland in 2014. |
| Female drink-driving levels are not falling quickly enough, it also said, as warnings are not "getting through". | Female drink-driving levels are not falling quickly enough, it also said, as warnings are not "getting through". |
| The Department for Transport said tackling drink-driving was a priority. | The Department for Transport said tackling drink-driving was a priority. |
| Changed habits | Changed habits |
| The number of casualties and accidents caused by drinking and driving has been falling steadily since 1979, when detailed reporting began, according to data from the Department for Transport. | The number of casualties and accidents caused by drinking and driving has been falling steadily since 1979, when detailed reporting began, according to data from the Department for Transport. |
| However, the Police Federation - which represents rank and file officers in England and Wales - said that was largely because male drivers had changed their drinking habits. | However, the Police Federation - which represents rank and file officers in England and Wales - said that was largely because male drivers had changed their drinking habits. |
| It said more men than women were still caught drink-driving, but female convictions were not decreasing at the same rate. | It said more men than women were still caught drink-driving, but female convictions were not decreasing at the same rate. |
| A study by Social Research Associates published last year suggested 17% of all drink-driving convictions in 2012 involved women - up from 9% in 1998. | A study by Social Research Associates published last year suggested 17% of all drink-driving convictions in 2012 involved women - up from 9% in 1998. |
| Victoria Martin, a Police Federation representative, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that figures suggested women's drinking habits "aren't changing". | Victoria Martin, a Police Federation representative, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that figures suggested women's drinking habits "aren't changing". |
| She said figures from the last 10 years showed the number of men caught drink-driving had halved, while female levels had stayed "about the same". | She said figures from the last 10 years showed the number of men caught drink-driving had halved, while female levels had stayed "about the same". |
| Public safety messages about driving while drunk were not "getting through to women", she added. | Public safety messages about driving while drunk were not "getting through to women", she added. |
| Lucy Rocca, the founder of Soberistas - a social network to help women stop drinking - said women were not being featured in public health campaigns and advertising and, as a result, were not "connecting" with drink-drive warnings. | Lucy Rocca, the founder of Soberistas - a social network to help women stop drinking - said women were not being featured in public health campaigns and advertising and, as a result, were not "connecting" with drink-drive warnings. |
| She said many women were "reticent" to admit they had a problem, adding: "It is women not wanting to admit they are drinking too much and not taking that into consideration when they get behind the wheel." | She said many women were "reticent" to admit they had a problem, adding: "It is women not wanting to admit they are drinking too much and not taking that into consideration when they get behind the wheel." |
| Strengthening enforcement | Strengthening enforcement |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the proposed lower limit in England and Wales would mean in some cases a person could be breaking the law after drinking a pint of beer. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the proposed lower limit in England and Wales would mean in some cases a person could be breaking the law after drinking a pint of beer. |
| Northern Ireland is already considering a similar plan. | Northern Ireland is already considering a similar plan. |
| Prosecutions for drink-driving in Scotland have fallen by a third since it adopted the new limit in December, which our correspondent said suggested motorists were being more careful. | Prosecutions for drink-driving in Scotland have fallen by a third since it adopted the new limit in December, which our correspondent said suggested motorists were being more careful. |
| The Department for Transport said it would look at the best ways to improve road safety over the next few years. | The Department for Transport said it would look at the best ways to improve road safety over the next few years. |
| A DfT spokesman said: "We have strengthened enforcement by removing the automatic right for drivers who fail a breathalyser test to demand a blood or urine test. This has denied people the chance to sober up while waiting for the test to be taken. | A DfT spokesman said: "We have strengthened enforcement by removing the automatic right for drivers who fail a breathalyser test to demand a blood or urine test. This has denied people the chance to sober up while waiting for the test to be taken. |
| "High risk offenders are now also required to prove they are no longer alcohol-dependent before being allowed to drive." | "High risk offenders are now also required to prove they are no longer alcohol-dependent before being allowed to drive." |
| Have you been affected by drink-driving? What do you think the limit should be? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | |
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