More than two-thirds of motorists support moves to lower the legal drink-drive limit, a survey has revealed.
As many as 71% of drivers polled agreed the current drink-drive limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, should be cut. More than half (55%) said the limit should be 20mg or lower, while 16% favoured a 50mg limit - the figure in operation in a number of EU countries.
Meanwhile, 92% of the 800 drivers surveyed by road safety charity Brake would like to see a new anti drug-drive law introduced similar to that used for drink-driving.
Brake deputy chief executive Cathy Keeler said: "It's time for bold action by policymakers to demonstrate they are listening to public concerns on drink and drug-driving."
She went on: "We desperately need a solid legal foundation for the clear messages of the Government's THINK! road safety campaign: don't drink any amount of alcohol and drive; don't take any impairing drugs (whether legal or illegal) and drive. The message is: Not a Drop, Not a Drag."
As well as a fine and a minimum disqualification period of 12 months for drink driving, many people overlook the extra expense they will face when trying to get car insurance following a conviction. Car insurance premiums are commonly doubled if someone has been banned for drink driving and the conviction will stay on record for 11 years.
The results from the Brake survey come ahead of a soon-to-be-published, Whitehall-commissioned report on drink-diving and drug-driving.
