"This clearly shows the need for lowering the BAC limit from 0.8 g/l to 0.5 g/l as well as the introduction of targeted breath testing. No further time should be wasted in addressing this", said Robert Gifford, Executive Director at PACTS. According to Gifford, the number of roadside screening breath tests in the UK decreased from 815,000 in 1998 to 607,000 in 2005. The upcoming consultation on drunk driving would be an ideal window of opportunity to accelerate progress on combating drunk driving by setting up a lower BAC limit in conjunction with intensified enforcement actions as agreed by the participants.
Ten years ago the then government proposed both a lower limit and the introduction of random testing in the frame of a consultation. However this did not go ahead due in part to the rural pub lobby. Nevertheless now nearly ten years later the situation has evolved further with the rise of binge drinking and public support from the Scottish Government for changing the limit. Public support is now there. The UK government should take the courageous and necessary step of proposing these changes.