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22/10/2009
Drink-Drive Limit To Be Cut
The amount of alcohol that puts a driver on the wrong side of the law is to be reduced.
Coming at the same time as a similar proposal in the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland's drink-driving limit is now set to be reduced next year.
The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has even hinted that the limit north of the border could be even lower than that proposed in the Republic.
His comments follow a proposal by Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to lower the legal level to 50mg per 100 ml of blood from the present 80mg.
"The consultation would indicate that there is widespread support in Northern Ireland for reducing the drink-drive limit," Mr Potts said.
"Someone who is driving at the current drink-drive limit is six times more likely to be involved in a car crash.
"There was a proposal that we might go down to 20mg for professional drivers or for young drivers.
"Again, once you go up to 50mg you are still four times more likely to be involved in an accident," he concluded.
A public consultation process on the drink-driving limit, penalties and police detection powers has ended and Department of Environment officials are reviewing the evidence.
See: : FF Infighting Over Legal Limit Decrease
(BMcC/GK)
Coming at the same time as a similar proposal in the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland's drink-driving limit is now set to be reduced next year.
The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has even hinted that the limit north of the border could be even lower than that proposed in the Republic.
His comments follow a proposal by Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to lower the legal level to 50mg per 100 ml of blood from the present 80mg.
"The consultation would indicate that there is widespread support in Northern Ireland for reducing the drink-drive limit," Mr Potts said.
"Someone who is driving at the current drink-drive limit is six times more likely to be involved in a car crash.
"There was a proposal that we might go down to 20mg for professional drivers or for young drivers.
"Again, once you go up to 50mg you are still four times more likely to be involved in an accident," he concluded.
A public consultation process on the drink-driving limit, penalties and police detection powers has ended and Department of Environment officials are reviewing the evidence.
See: : FF Infighting Over Legal Limit Decrease
(BMcC/GK)
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