Drink-driving limit changes opposed

THE Government could be facing controversy over its plans to lower the drink-driving limit after publicans yesterday claimed there was no evidence any reduction would impact on road safety.

Pub owners signalled they will oppose any changes to the limits in the face of the Government’s commitment to reduce the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration level of 0.8 (80mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood) as part of its Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012.

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, which represents more than 5,000 publicans, described a report by the RSA calling for a reduction to drink-driving limits as “inconsistent and flawed”.

It was confirmed earlier this week that the RSA has recommended the general BAC should be reduced to 0.5 to bring the Republic into line with the limit used in most other EU countries. It also proposed a lower limit of 0.2 should be introduced for learner, recently qualified and professional drivers.

The VFI yesterday urged the Government to treat the RSA’s recommendations with “extreme caution”. One VFI source claimed the RSA research findings in supports of its calls for a lowering of the BAC limit were “quite weak”.

“Despite recommendations made to the contrary, the content of the report actually supports the VFI’s position that there is no justification for reducing the current blood levels permissible for drivers,” said a VFI spokesperson.

He said the RSA had alluded to one road safety study that claimed reductions in BAC limits from 0.8 to 0.5 did not see the expected reduction in alcohol-related collisions.

The VFI claimed recommendations for an 0.2limit for professional and novice drivers were, by the RSA’s own admission, unworkable and operationally impractical.

VFI chief executive, Padraig Cribben, claimed the proposed changes to the drink driving limits would criminalise people who took one alcoholic drink as well as jeopardising motorists driving the morning after a responsible night out.