Ministers may consider lowering the drink-driving limit in England and Wales if a decision by the Scottish Government to do the same proves to be a success.

The alcohol limit for drivers was reduced in Scotland from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in December 2014.

At the moment the limit in England and Wales remains at the 80mg level.

But there have been calls from road safety campaigners and police and crime commissioners to lower it to the level north of the border.

Previously the UK Government has said the current limit in England and Wales "strikes an important balance between safety and personal freedom".

But a response from the Transport Minister Andrew Jones to a written parliamentary question on the subject suggests the Government could look at lowering the limit if the evidence from Scotland shows it has made roads safer.

Mr Jones said: "I am intending to discuss with the Scottish Minister about the experience of the lower limit in Scotland and about the timescales to get access to robust evidence of the road safety impact.

 

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"It is important to base our decisions on evidence and the Scottish experience will be crucial to that before we consider any possible changes to the limits in England and Wales.

"This Government's current position however remains to focus resources on enforcing against the most serious offenders."

 

Nicholas Lyes, public affairs manager for the RAC, urged the Government to lower the limit in England and Wales.

 

He said: "More than half of motorists think the blood-alcohol limit should be reduced at least to 50mg/100ml from the current 80mg/100ml level.

"Younger drivers are more likely to drink-drive with 26% of those between 17 and 24 thinking or knowing they have done so in the past year.

"We urge Government to listen to motorist opinion, consider carefully what is happening in Scotland and reduce the drink drive limit."

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