Public opinions sway towards tougher stance on drug driving and drink driving.

A recent survey from the road safe charity brake and car insurance company Direct Line has found that more than half the public want the legal blood-alcohol limit reduced by three quarters.
The survey also found that over 90% of UK drivers also supported a change in the law that would enable anyone driving on "impairing" drugs to be prosecuted, in a similar way that drink-drivers are. The law in the UK currently states that a prosecution can only be brought against a "drug-driver" if the police also have evidence that she/ he was driving badly.

Research by Brake shows that someone driving with the maximum permitted level of alcohol is five times more likely to crash than if they were driving without any alcohol in their system.

The results of this new survey identify that UK drivers also favour a lower drink-drive limit, with seven out of 10 saying that the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood should be lowered.

Since a reform in drink driving laws in Ireland in December 2009, Britain and Malta are the only remaining European countries with a drink-drive limit higher than the EU-recommended limit of 50mg alcohol per 100ml blood. Through blood alcohol testing many drivers could find themselves breaking the law if they were to drive with 51 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood which has more than 400 drivers poled by Brake and Direct Line calling for a new drink drive limit across the UK to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Cathy Keeler, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: "Our drink-drive limit and drug-drive laws are hopelessly out of touch with public opinion and the weight of evidence showing just how dangerous it is to mix drink or drugs – or both – with driving."

An official review of drink-driving law is widely expected to recommend cutting the legal limit to 50mg. The Government believes this would prevent 65 deaths and 230 serious injuries a year.

If you have been convicted of any drink driving or drug driving offence and you would like a blood alcohol test, or if you require an employee alcohol and drug testing service for health and safety reasons at your workplace please contact Forensic Resource ltd.