AM calls for a lowering of drink driving limit (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

AM calls for a lowering of drink driving limit

February 18, 2008 3:15 PM

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport, has tabled a statement of opinion calling for the blood alcohol level of drivers to be lowered from 80mg to 50mg.

The British Medical Association say that while they would prefer an outright ban, if this was implemented there would be cases where individuals would register slightly above zero, even when they had not been drinking, such as those with diabetes or someone who had used mouthwash. They have therefore opted to back calls for a 50mg limit.

Kirsty said: "The UK is lagging behind the rest of the EU in terms of its drink driving limit. Out of the 27 members countries only the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta have a limit of 80mg, the other 23 have reduced theirs to 50mg.

"Between 2001 and 2006 there were 3360 road causalities in Wales where there was at least one positive breath test. This is an alarming figure and clearly further action must be taken to tackle drink driving.

"The current limit gives out a very confusing message to the public; with most people not knowing how many units they can drink, let alone how many units there are in their drink.

"We need a message people can easily understand. A 50mg limit would provide this with one pub measure of alcohol - equating to a 175ml glass of standard strength wine or half a pint of strong beer - being the maximum.

"In my statement of opinion I am calling for the Westminster Government to enhance the law on drink driving by reducing the maximum alcohol level for drivers from 80mgs to the European norm of 50mgs in line with the recommendations of the Association of Chief Police officers. We must do this in order to seriously reduce road deaths and injuries across the UK."

Notes:

Road causality figures taken from the 2006 Road Causalities: Wales National Statistics official Government figures.

Statement of Opinion:

OPIN-2008- 0018 - Gostwng y lefel alcohol yn y gwaed i yrwyr/Lowering of the blood alcohol level for drivers

Codwyd gan / Raised By:

Kirsty Williams

Gostwng y lefel alcohol yn y gwaed i yrwyr

Mae'r Cynulliad hwn yn nodi â phryder y 3360 o bobl a gafodd eu hanafu ar y ffordd, rhwng 2001-2006, mewn damweiniau lle cafwyd o leiaf un prawf anadl positif.

Mae'r Cynulliad hwn yn cefnogi galwad Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain i ostwng y lefel alcohol a ganiateir yn y gwaed a chyfleu neges symlach y gall yfwyr ei ddeall.

Felly, mae'r Cynulliad hwn yn galw ar Lywodraeth San Steffan i ddiwygio'r gyfraith ar yfed a gyrru drwy ostwng y lefel uchaf o alcohol a ganiateir yng ngwaed gyrwyr o 80mg i 50 mg, sef y lefel gyffredin yn Ewrop, yn unol ag argymhellion Cymdeithas Prif Swyddogion yr Heddlu.

Lowering of the blood alcohol level for drivers

This Assembly notes with concern the 3360 road causalities, between 2001-2006, that were involved in accidents where there was at least one positive breath test.

This Assembly supports the BMA's calls for the lowering of the blood alcohol level and a simpler message for drinkers to understand.

This Assembly therefore calls upon the Westminster Government to enhance the law on drink driving by reducing the maximum alcohol level for drivers from 80mgs to the European norm of 50mgs in line with the recommendations of the Association of Chief Police officers