Overview

This bill proposes to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988, lowering the legal alcohol limit for driving in the UK. The changes aim to reduce drink-driving incidents and improve road safety.

Description

The bill modifies the definition of "prescribed limit" within the Road Traffic Act 1988. Specifically, it lowers the legal alcohol limit for drivers across all three measurement methods:

• Breath: from 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath to 14 microgrammes.
• Blood: from 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood to 20 milligrammes.
• Urine: from 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine to 40 milligrammes.

The bill's effective date will be set by the Secretary of State via statutory instrument.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify any changes to government spending. However, potential increases in enforcement costs or resources allocated to public awareness campaigns could indirectly impact government budgets. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Drivers: The most significant impact will be on drivers, as they will face stricter penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Law enforcement: Police forces will likely experience an increase in the number of drink-driving arrests and subsequent processing.
• The justice system: Courts may see a rise in drink-driving cases, potentially leading to increased workload.
• Pubs and bars: Businesses serving alcohol might see a decrease in customer numbers, particularly if patrons drive to the establishments.

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