Government Plans to Overhaul Road Safety Laws Meet With Praise and Criticism
The UK government's proposal to update road safety laws, including the consideration of reducing the drink-drive limit and introducing mandatory eye tests for older drivers, has been welcomed by motoring groups as "much overdue" and "a step in the right direction". The plans, set to be published as part of a road safety strategy in the autumn, also include tougher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seatbelt. According to The Times, the proposals are an attempt to address the high number of road deaths and serious injuries, with 1,633 people killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents last year.
Key Takeaways:
- The UK government is considering reducing the drink-drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, a figure in line with Scotland and the rest of Europe.
- Mandatory eye tests could be introduced every three years for drivers aged over 70, with a driving ban for those who fail.
- The police could bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests rather than blood tests.
- Motoring groups, such as the AA and IAM RoadSmart, have welcomed the proposals as a much-needed overhaul of road safety laws.
- A Labour source has criticized the lack of action on road safety under successive Conservative governments, stating that the number of people killed and seriously injured on UK roads is "unacceptably high".
Statistics:
- 1,633 people were killed in traffic incidents last year.
- Almost 28,000 people were seriously injured in traffic incidents last year.
- The number of people killed in drink-driving incidents has risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022.
- The estimated cost of road crashes to the NHS is over £2 billion per year.
- 1,400 people receive a fixed penalty notice for drink-driving every year, but many more exceed the limit without being caught.
Sources:
- The Times
- AA
- IAM RoadSmart
- Labour source