Skip to main content

UK road safety charity calls for drivers to stay sober

UK road safety charity Brake is calling on drivers to stay sober if driving over the Christmas period or plan to get home by taxi or public transport, to prevent road casualties. Brake is renewing calls for a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg alcohol per 100ml of blood, in line with evidence which claims that even one drink dramatically increases crash risk and to send a clear message it should be none for the road. Brake says a blood alcohol level of 20-50mg increases the likelihood of crashing t
December 19, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
UK road safety charity 4235 Brake is calling on drivers to stay sober if driving over the Christmas period or plan to get home by taxi or public transport, to prevent road casualties.

Brake is renewing calls for a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg alcohol per 100ml of blood, in line with evidence which claims that even one drink dramatically increases crash risk and to send a clear message it should be none for the road. Brake says a blood alcohol level of 20-50mg increases the likelihood of crashing three-fold.

The call comes on the back of a recent survey by Brake and Direct Line which showed that more than three-quarters of drivers thought the current drink-drive limit too high.

Brake also called on the government to take action on drink driving. The Scottish Government introduced a lower limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in December 2014. The rest of the UK still retains an 80mg limit, higher than all other EU countries except Malta. Road Safety Scotland launched its drink-drive campaign this month.
UTC

Related Content

  • March 4, 2019
    International Road Safety Awards: the winners
    Road accidents are a major blight on the world’s highways - but some companies are attempting to stem the tide. David Arminas reports on the annual Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards
  • August 5, 2016
    Road deaths still not reducing, says PACTS
    The road casualty statistics for Great Britain just released by the Department for Transport (DfT) are worrying in a number of ways, says the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS). They show no reduction in drink-drive deaths since 2010 – remaining at 240 deaths a year and no reduction in total road deaths and a two per cent increase in serious casualties in the past 12 months (to 31 March 2016). Seven police forces, including the largest ones, Metropolitan and Greater Manchester
  • April 10, 2024
    Should it be end of the road for right-turns on red?
    Banning right-hand turns after stopping for a red light is gaining momentum in the US. But the debate continues about whether it will result in fewer incidents between vehicles and alternative mobility users. David Arminas reports
  • October 28, 2022
    Cannabis and cars don’t mix
    Increased – legal – cannabis use has created increased – illegal – use by drivers. Adam Hill looks at a new report which advises State Highway Safety Offices on tackling the issue