The Government has announced a new road safety strategy aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. Key measures include stricter drink-driving laws, mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70, and the introduction of automatic emergency braking in new vehicles. The strategy also proposes increased penalties for uninsured drivers and a learning period for young drivers to enhance their skills.
The first change to the drink-drive limit in nearly 60 years will mean drivers could be over after a single pint of lager or a large glass of wine. England and Wales’s limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – or 0.08% blood alcohol – has not changed since 1967. Under the proposals it could be cut to 22 micrograms (0.05% blood alcohol). Convicted drink-drivers could be forced to fit breathalysers to their cars that prevent the ignition from starting if they are over the limit. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities.”
Meanwhile, there will also be a crackdown on ghost number plates, which are often used by criminals to evade detection. New measures will ensure all plates are readable by automatic number plate recognition cameras. The Department for Transport will collaborate with the DVLA and police to review standards and enhance checks on suppliers.