Drivers May Face Lower Drink-Drive Limits

Drink-drivers beware as the NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson is cracking down on such offences - and may even cut legal limits for alcohol consumption and driving.

He has just launched a consultation on proposals to tackle the issue in Northern Ireland.

"Between 2003 and 2007 an average of 25 people were killed and 119 seriously injured every year in Northern Ireland in crashes involving drivers impaired through alcohol or drugs.

"The tragedy of these deaths and injuries is carried not only by bereaved families but by the entire community. The other tragedy is that they could all have been avoided," he said.

"I intend to do everything in my power to prevent people drinking and getting behind the wheel or on a motorcycle," he continued, highlighting one possible option.

"Reducing the drink-drive limit would bring us into line with best practice in most countries in Europe and the rest of the world where lower limits are the norm," he said.

The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland both have limits of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and, along with Malta, are the only European Union member states which permit drivers to legally drive with more than 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The Minister is therefore seeking views on different options including reducing the limit to 50 and introducing a lower limit of 20 milligrammes for novice and professional drivers.

He also highlighted other proposals including random breath testing powers, changes to penalties for drink driving, and measures to tackle high risk offenders.

He said: "We know impairment begins well below the current drink drive limit.

"My Department has, for many years, worked to convince road users not to take any drink at all before driving.

"I now want to take people's views on the level at which the limit should be set and ways to discourage drink driving and prevent reoffending," he said.

"By announcing this important consultation at this time I hope to reinforce the message to drive safely, not only over the Easter period, which is one of the busiest weekends for our emergency services but throughout the year."

(BMcC)