There is ‘strong public backing’ for tougher enforcement measures against drink drivers, according to the personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense.
Three quarters of respondents in a survey, conducted by Alcosense ahead of the deadline for responses to the Government’s Road Safety Strategy consultation, believe police should have the power to suspend a driver’s licence at the roadside if they test over the legal alcohol limit or refuse to provide a sample.
Almost as many (73%) support new powers allowing police to seize the vehicles of drink or drug driving offenders, while 70% back the introduction of random breath testing in England and Wales.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults also suggests widespread support for tougher sanctions in serious cases. More than eight in ten respondents (82%) said drivers under investigation for drink or drug driving offences involving a fatality or serious injury should have their licence suspended pending a court hearing.
A majority of those surveyed also believe existing driving bans are not severe enough, with 58% saying the current minimum disqualification period of five years for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs should be made more stringent. The same proportion said the penalty for standard drink-driving offences (minimum disqualification of one year) should also be tougher.
The poll also reinforced support for lowering the legal alcohol limit in England and Wales, which remains the highest in Europe.
Only 12% of respondents said the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood should remain unchanged. Around a quarter (24%) said it should be reduced to 20mg, while 26% backed a zero-tolerance approach. A further 28% said England and Wales should adopt Scotland’s 50mg limit.
There was also public backing for the use of technology as part of drink-drive rehabilitation measures. Seven in ten respondents supported the use of alcohol interlock devices, or “alcolocks”, which prevent a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on a driver’s breath.
Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of AlcoSense, said: “Our research indicates a demand for swift and visible enforcement measures, particularly where drivers are involved in serious incidents and fail or refuse breath tests.
“There is a growing sense that the consequences of drink or drug driving should be immediate, rather than waiting months for court proceedings to conclude.
“England and Wales now stand apart from the rest of Europe, including Scotland, in retaining the current 80mg limit. Only a small minority of people believe it should stay where it is.
Hunter Abbott concluded: “The public appears to support a combination of lower limits, stronger police enforcement and better use of preventative measures such as alcolocks.”
The latest Department for Transport figures show there were 260 fatalities in drink-drive accidents in 2023, with a total of 6,310 people injured in incidents involving drivers over the legal alcohol limit.
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