Drink-drive limit could be cut, says DfT

• Government may bring level to 40mg per 100ml
• Current level is 80mg per 100ml
• Cut would bring UK in line with most of Europe

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Motorists in the UK could face a lower drink-drive limit after the Government said tougher laws were now back on the agenda. Ladyman said a tougher limit would only be considered once authorities 'get it right' with the 80mg limit, tacitly admitting that enforcement of current levels isn't yet working effectively.

For years the Department of Transport has refused to lower the limit, despite calls from a growing number of bodies, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the British Medical Association and safety groups such as Brake.

Now transport minister Stephen Ladyman said the Government 'may well wish to move towards a figure of 50mg' in the future, 30mg lower than today's threshold of 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

A 50mg limit would put the UK on an equal footing with the majority of Europe, which has already adopted this lower level, or even tougher standards. Researchers in the US say that driving impairment starts at just 40mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – half the current legal level in the UK.

Critics of a lower limit argue that properly enforcing today's laws would have a far greater impact on road safety.

Ladyman said that a tougher limit would only be considered once authorities 'get it right' with the 80mg limit, tacitly admitting that enforcement of current levels isn't working properly.