Anger at laws allowing motorists over drink limit to avoid losing licence

ROAD safety campaigners have expressed outrage at legislation being proposed by the Government which will allow some motorists over the legal drink-driving limit to avoid losing their licence.

The group, PARC, yesterday criticised plans by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to introduce a new graded penalty system for the lower blood-alcohol limit to be introduced next month.

A new Road Traffic Act, which will lower the current blood-alcohol limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, bringing Ireland in line with most other EU countries, is due to come into effect once new breathalysing equipment has been approved for general use by gardaí.