An independent
expert has been appointed to examine possible changes to the law
on drink and drug driving, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis
announced today as he launched the Government’s Christmas drink
drive campaign.
Sir Peter North will advise on the case for changes to the drink
driving limit as well as on whether there is a need to tighten the
law on drug driving.
For both drink and drugs, the study will also consider the likely
impacts of any changes on driver behaviour, and the practical
steps needed to support the introduction of any new or revised
offence.
The Department for Transport also today launched its £1.2m THINK!
Christmas drink drive campaign, including a new Driver Friendly
initiative which will see designated drivers at thousands of pubs
across the country receiving free or discounted soft drinks.
Andrew Adonis said:
“Road safety has improved significantly in recent years – 1,000
fewer people now die on the roads in a year than in the mid-1990s
– and Britain now has one of the safest road systems in the world.
“But we need to cut further the number of tragedies on our roads.
Drink driving killed 430 people last year and research suggests
drug driving is a key concern for the public.
“To reduce drink and drug driving accidents there may be a case
for further strengthening the law. I have appointed Sir Peter
North to provide me with independent advice on lowering the drink
drive limit and tackling drug driving through a new offence.”
Sir Peter North said:
“Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs still leads to a
large number of deaths and serious injuries. The challenge is to
see whether changes in the law and its processes can reduce
casualties.
“The legal and practical issues are not easy to resolve but I
intend to consult widely on these matters. I shall form my own
independent views on them with the objective of providing advice
by the end of March.”
Sir Peter will provide advice on the merit of specific proposals
for changes to the legislative regime for drink and drug driving.
For drink driving, the report will advise on the case for changes
to the prescribed alcohol limit for driving - either reducing the
current limit, or adding a new, lower limit, with an associated
revised penalty regime. For drug driving, the study will advise on
whether there is a need for new legislation. It is already illegal
to drive while impaired by a drug but a new offence might make it
illegal to drive with named drugs in the system at specified
levels, in the way that it is already an offence to drive with a
specified level of alcohol in the blood.
Sir Peter will provide this advice to the Department for
Transport by the end of March 2010 and the Department will then
consult on its findings and publish a final road safety strategy.
This year’s THINK! campaign - which includes TV adverts as well
as new radio, internet, national press and in-pub advertising -
reminds drivers, and young men in particular: If you get caught
drink driving you risk losing your car for at least 12 months.
The Driver Friendly campaign is supported by soft drinks
manufacturers and pub chains across the country with offers on
Coca-Cola soft drinks for designated drivers in more than 8,000
pubs nationwide and a variety of other promotions including
discounts and free drinks.
The police aim to carry out a record number of road side breath
tests this Christmas so drink drivers are more likely than ever to
be caught and punished.
Notes to Editors
1.Andrew Adonis announced to Parliament today that an independent
expert had been appointed to examine possible changes to the law
on drink and drug driving. The statement is available here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/drinkdriving
2.
Sir Peter North has been asked to provide advice on the merit of
specific proposals for changes to the legislative regime for drink
and drug driving, reporting by the end of March 2010. This report
will inform the final contents of the next road safety strategy.
3. The full scope and terms of reference are available on the
DfT website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drivinglaws/termsofref/.
It will be a matter for Sir Peter how he proceeds; and he will act
wholly independently in publishing his conclusions and
advice.
4. Sir Peter is an internationally renowned legal
expert whose previous studies include the review of traffic law
which led to the Road Traffic Act 1991 and his 1997 report on
marches and parades in Northern Ireland which led to the Public
Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
5. Copies of the new
THINK! campaign radio, posters, national press and TV adverts are
available on request from the DfT press office.
6. Driving a
vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink or
drugs, or failing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine,
could result in a driving ban of at least 12 months, six
months' imprisonment, plus a fine of up to £5,000. The
legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100
millilitres of blood.
7. Statistics on casualties and
accidents involving drinking and driving in Great Britain in 2008,
can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/excel/173025/221412/221549/227755/503336/article3.xls
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