Driving: Blood Alcohol Limit Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Transport
Viscount Simon
Main Page: Viscount Simon (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Viscount Simon's debates with the Department for Transport
(12 years ago)
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Earl Attlee
My Lords, many European countries have a 50 milligram blood alcohol limit. However, they also have lower penalties at that level. Our policy is to have an 80 milligram limit but very severe penalties if you exceed the limit. This seems to have the right effect because our safety record is better than that on the continent.
Viscount Simon
My Lords, if the noble Earl is saying that 80 milligrams is the correct level for us, what about Scotland and Wales? Presumably they will decrease their level to 50 milligrams.
Earl Attlee
My Lords, the noble Viscount is quite right; Scotland has the power to set a lower limit. However, it cannot change the penalties. If it does change its limit, it will be very interesting to see what the effect will be on casualties.