Wilson announces proposals to get tough on drink driving
Thursday, 9 April 2009Environment Minister Sammy Wilson today launched a consultation on proposals to tackle drink driving in Northern Ireland.
The Minister commented: “Between 2003 and 2007 an average of 25 people were killed and 119 seriously injured every year in Northern Ireland in crashes involving drivers impaired through alcohol or drugs.
“The tragedy of these deaths and injuries is carried not only by bereaved families but by the entire community. The other tragedy is that they could all have been avoided.
“I intend to do everything in my power to prevent people drinking and getting behind the wheel or on a motorcycle.
“Reducing the drink drive limit would bring us into line with best practice in most countries in Europe and the rest of the world where lower limits are the norm.”
The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland both have limits of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and, along with Malta, are the only European Union member states which permit drivers to legally drive with more than 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The Minister is seeking views on different options including reducing the limit to 50 and introducing a lower limit of 20 milligrammes for novice and professional drivers.
Mr Wilson highlighted other proposals including random breath testing powers, changes to penalties for drink driving, and measures to tackle high risk offenders.
He said: “We know impairment begins well below the current drink drive limit.
“My Department has, for many years, worked to convince road users not to take any drink at all before driving.
“I now want to take people’s views on the level at which the limit should be set and ways to discourage drink driving and prevent reoffending.
“By announcing this important consultation at this time I hope to reinforce the message to drive safely, not only over the Easter period, which is one of the busiest weekends for our emergency services but throughout the year.”
The Minister urged people to carefully examine the options and to give the Department their views.
He also assured the public all responses would be carefully considered before any decisions on the way forward are taken.
Mr Wilson concluded: “While we can legislate for lower drink drive limits, members of the public must also play their part by behaving responsibly when they get behind the steering wheel.
“Just as it has become socially unacceptable for people to smoke in clubs and bars, it should be socially unacceptable to drink and drive.
“In arguing this, I am not being a killjoy. People should be able to unwind in a pub, club or restaurant with friends over a glass of beer or wine if they so choose.
“However with that choice comes responsibility. People who drink have a responsibility not just to ensure they get home safely but that others do as well. The safest way to do that is to book a taxi or have a designated driver who will abstain from alcohol.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The Department of the Environment is reviewing drink drive legislation in Northern Ireland, including blood alcohol limits, penalties and police powers. The paper also considers the right to ask for a blood or urine specimen to replace an evidential breath test in certain circumstances.
2. The consultation and supporting papers are available on the Road Safety Website at www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk. The consultation runs until Friday 31 July 2009.
3. Between 2003 and 2007, 127 people died in collisions attributed to driver/rider alcohol or drugs - 20% of all road deaths in Northern Ireland in that period. Five hundred and ninety five people were seriously injured - 10% of all serious injuries on Northern Ireland’s roads. In 2007, 18 people were killed and 113 were seriously injured in alcohol or drug-related collisions.
4. Between 2003 and 2008, 21 people died in collisions over the Easter weekend, of which 9 (43%) were attributed to driver/rider alcohol or drugs. A further 88 people were seriously injured, of which 12 (14%) were attributed to driver/rider alcohol or drugs. There were a total of 374 injury collisions of which 40 (11%) were attributed to driver/rider alcohol or drugs.
5. The value of avoiding each road death is £1.65million and each serious injury £185,000 (at 2007 prices). Over the last five years it is estimated that the value of avoiding the 722 drug/alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries would have been around £286million.
6. The current legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit applicable to all drivers/riders in Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
7. The penalties for exceeding this limit range from a minimum 12 month driving disqualification up to 14 years imprisonment and unlimited fines. There are higher penalties for high risk offenders.
8. An EU recommendation in January 2001 suggested that all Member States introduce a BAC limit of 50mg per 100ml and a lower limit of 20mg per 100ml for certain higher-risk drivers, for example novice drivers, lorry drivers and motorcyclists.
9.For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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