The Local Government Association (LGA) and all fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales are calling for the legal drink-drive limit to be reduced from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, arguing it could save lives and reduce accidents.
The LGA estimates that lowering the limit could save 170 lives in the first year, rising to over 300 by the sixth year. It also claims the move could save £300 million annually by cutting emergency responses and hospital admissions.
Provisional government figures show reported serious drink-drive accidents in Britain rose by 11% between 2014 and 2015, from 880 to 980. Total reported accidents increased by 2%, and serious injuries rose by 9%.
Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, warned that England and Wales would soon have the highest drink-drive limit in Europe, which he said sends the wrong message. He urged the government to align with other European countries to improve road safety.
However, a Department for Transport spokesman stated that the government believes rigorous enforcement and severe penalties are more effective deterrents than changing the limit. He emphasised that those already over the current limit cause disproportionate harm and should be the focus of resources.
Scotland reduced its limit to 50mg in December 2014, and Northern Ireland plans to follow suit. The UK government has previously said there are no plans to lower the limit in England and Wales.
