WITHINGTON MP PRESSES GOVERNMENT ON ROAD SAFETY

5.19.09pm GMT Fri 19th Mar 2010

Local MP John Leech, who has been actively campaigning for the drink-drive limit to be reduced, quizzed ministers on their plans to change to the law on drink-driving.

An official review of drink-driving law is expected to propose reducing the limit to 50mg from the current limit of 80mg, bringing Britain in line with EU recommendations.

Government estimates suggest that around 65 deaths and 230 serious injuries a year could be avoided under new rules.

To make the transition easier, ministers are considering a graduated drink-drive scale, so that drivers who are convicted of exceeding the lower alcohol limit might not receive an automatic driving ban.

Commenting on these plans, John Leech said:

"Any proposals to introduce a graduated drink-drive scale are simply ludicrous. It totally sends out the wrong message about the seriousness of drink driving.

In Parliament, I pressed the minister to guarantee that there would be an automatic driving ban for those found guilty of driving while being between the old 80mg and the new 50mg limit."

Research conducted by road safety charity BRAKE has shown that people driving over the alcohol limit are five times more likely to be involved in an accident than those driving without alcohol in their bloodstream.

John added:

"I have also been calling for a reduction in the speed limit in urban areas from 30mph to 20mph. Research conducted in London has shown that such a reduction has resulted in a 41.9% decrease in road casualties."

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Notes to Editors

As Shadow Transport Spokesman, John Leech MP attended Oral Questions to the Minister for Transport in the House of Commons on Thursday 18th March.

Alcohol related road accidents number around 3,000 annually, with many being serious or fatal. Nearly one sixth of all road deaths involve drivers who are over the alcohol limit.

Currently the limit stands at 80 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (80mg/100ml). Britain and Malta remain the only two countries in the European Union with a drink-drive limit above than the EU-recommended limit of 50mg.

The penalties for exceeding the drink-drive limit include up to 6 months in prison, a fine of up to £5000 or a minimum of 12 months' disqualification.

Results from the official review are expected at the end of March and will be followed by a full public consultation.

Research by the British Medical Journal in London has shown that areas in which 20mph zones were introduced experienced a dramatic reduction in road casualties, particularly among young children.