Latest news with #drinkdrivelimit
The Sun
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Four new changes to UK driving rules under ‘biggest shake-up since 2006' – and how YOU can be punished for breaking them
MOTORISTS across the UK could soon face four major changes to driving rules - seen as the most significant overhaul in nearly two decades. The major shake up looks set to come into effect in Autumn 2025 as part of a new road safety strategy. 5 5 5 5 5 According to The Times, these proposed changes reflect stricter measures to improve road safety and introduce tougher penalties for rule violations, which will include a reduction of the drink-drive limit and older drivers being required to take mandatory eye tests. These amendments, set to be introduced to help tackle persistent safety issues on UK roads and reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries, have been put forward by UK Government ministers and led by the Department for Transport (DfT). They represent the biggest reform to driving laws since the Road Safety Act of 2006 - a major piece of legislation which aimed to improve road safety in the UK. Lower drink-drive limit The drink-drive limit in England and Wales may be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms - making it easier to be penalised for driving after consuming even small amounts of alcohol. This figure would be in line with Scotland and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high as that in England and Wales. This lower threshold may mean that just one drink puts someone over the limit. Additionally, the Government plans to simplify drug-driving prosecutions by allowing police to use roadside saliva tests as evidence, rather than blood tests. Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, has urged more needs to be done to tackle drink-driving, adding: 'Data for Scotland suggests merely reducing the legal drink-drive limit isn't enough. 'A significant number of drink-drive offences are committed by reoffenders, so tackling the risk associated with habitual drink-drivers is crucial.' Being caught drink-driving in the UK carries hefty penalties, which includes a potential six-month prison sentence, an unlimited fine and a minimum driving ban of one year. Watch Tesla test self-driving cars on London streets as it passes famous landmarks The severity of the punishment depends on the level of alcohol in the driver's system and any other factors, such as causing a collision. Drug-driving convictions also result in a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison and a criminal record. Other consequences can include higher car insurance costs, potential issues with employers seeing the conviction on a licence and difficulties in travelling to certain countries, such as the US. Older driver safety Proposed changes may also affect older drivers, with a focus on ensuring that drivers over the age of 70 are fit to drive. This may include drivers over 70 being required to undergo compulsory eye tests every three years when renewing their licence, with an aim to detect visual impairments that could affect driving ability. Currently, the UK relies on self-reporting of visual conditions - making it one of only three European countries to do so. These new measures would align the UK with stricter standards seen elsewhere. It may also see medical tests introduced for conditions that may impair driving, such as dementia or other age-related illnesses. These come in as the number of drivers over 60 involved in crashes resulting in fatalities or serious injuries has increased by 47% since 2010 - highlighting the need for stricter checks. Older drivers who fail the mandatory eye test or medical assessments would be banned from driving and could result in criminal proceedings if they're caught behind the wheel after failing these tests. Tougher penalties for uninsured drivers Changes may also be made to tackle uninsured driving, with more focus on increasing penalties and improving enforcement to address the ongoing issue. The current penalty for driving without insurance - a £300 fixed fine and six licence points - is now expected to be raised under the new proposals, which could include uninsured drivers facing unlimited fines and possible disqualification from driving if a case goes to court. Measures are also being considered to combat vehicles with so-called "ghost plates" - number plates that evade detection by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Seatbelt non-compliance Finally, the Government is also considering stricter penalties for those caught not wearing a seatbelt - with drivers receiving fines and even licence points as punishment. Currently, drivers face a £100 on-the-spot fine for not wearing a seatbelt, which can rise to £500 if taken to court. These offences, though, do not currently result in penalty points on a driving licence. Under the possible changes, drivers would now face penalty points if passengers are not wearing seatbelts, marking a significant shift from the current fine-only system. This aims to address rising fatalities - with 25% of road deaths involving individuals not wearing seatbelts and 40% of these fatalities being back-seat passengers. Motorists are already legally responsible for ensuring passengers under 14 are properly restrained, with these tougher penalties simply adding further accountability. What was the 2006 Road Safety Act? The Road Safety Act 2006 introduced a number of significant measures to improve UK road safety. These included new offences such as causing death by careless driving or while uninsured, increased penalties for drink-driving and speeding, provisions for penalising foreign drivers and stricter rules for vehicle registration and private hire vehicles. It also enhanced driver training and testing standards. As part of the "Tomorrow's Roads – safer for everyone" strategy, the Act aimed to reduce road deaths and injuries, marking one of the most important reforms in road safety laws at the time. Notably, it also targeted mobile phone use while driving, introducing tougher penalties for using hand-held devices behind the wheel. Drivers caught could face fines, licence endorsements and even disqualification for repeated offences. This was part of broader efforts to reduce distractions and improve road safety, alongside measures addressing drink-driving, speeding and other dangerous behaviours.
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
All the changes considered in road safety overhaul
The UK government is planning a significant overhaul of road safety laws, with proposals expected to be published in the autumn as part of a new strategy. Key measures under consideration include reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath from 35, aligning it with Scotland and most of Europe. Ministers are also reportedly considering mandatory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70, with a driving ban for those who fail. Further proposals include tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and those failing to wear a seatbelt, and allowing police to use roadside saliva tests for drug-driving prosecutions. These reforms aim to address the persistently high number of road deaths and serious injuries in Britain, which saw 1,633 fatalities last year and cost the NHS over £2bn annually.
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
UK ministers urged to do more to protect new drivers in road safety overhaul
Motoring groups have welcomed government plans to overhaul road safety laws that could result in over-70s being banned if they fail eyesight tests but have implored ministers to go further with measures they believe could protect younger drivers and their passengers. Ministers are considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales and introducing mandatory eye tests for older drivers, the Times reported on Monday. The proposals also reportedly include tougher penalties for uninsured driving and failing to wear a seatbelt – but not measures to stop inexperienced drivers being responsible for the safety of groups of their friends. On Great Britain's roads last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents; and numbers have remained relatively constant after a large drop between 2000 and 2010. 'The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade,' said the AA's president Edmund King. 'We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone.' Vision checks for older drivers and targeting drink and drug drivers are 'practical steps that can make a real difference', he said. But failing to introduce limits on new drivers transporting peer-age passengers for six months was 'a major oversight', he added. Nicholas Lyes, the director of policy and standards at the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: 'Given progress on reducing fatal and serious collisions has stalled in recent years, we welcome the UK government's ambition to publish an updated road safety strategy with the reported measures being a step in the right direction. 'While many drivers over the age of 70 are safe and competent, health issues and confidence can have an impact on driving abilities, so it is sensible to review whether changes need to be made. 'We would also support reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, alongside measures to target drug-driving. However, these would require significantly more backing for roads policing teams to effectively enforce new laws.' A Labour source said: 'At the end of the last Labour government, the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads was at a record low, but numbers have remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments. 'In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2bn per year.' Meanwhile, the number of people killed in drink-driving incidents has increased over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022 and prompting concern that existing road safety measures are no longer working. Under the plans being considered by the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be brought in line with Scotland and the rest of Europe with a cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. The UK is one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving, leading ministers to consider compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged older than 70, and a driving ban for those who fail. Other proposals are reported to include allowing the police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests, rather than blood tests, as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with drugs in their system. The Labour source added the government would 'deliver the first road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads'. The strategy is due to be published in the autumn, and all proposals will be subject to consultation.
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Overhaul of road safety laws ‘much overdue', experts say
Motoring groups have hailed Government plans to overhaul road safety laws as 'much overdue' and 'a step in the right direction'. Ministers are considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales and introducing mandatory eye tests for older drivers, according to The Times. The proposals, 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. On Britain's roads last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010. Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. 'This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade. 'We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone.' Vision checks for older drivers and targeting drink and drug drivers are 'practical steps that can make a real difference', he said. But failing to introduce limits on new drivers transporting peer-age passengers for six months is 'a major oversight', he added. IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards Nicholas Lyes said: 'Given progress on reducing fatal and serious collisions has stalled in recent years, we welcome the UK Government's ambition to publish an updated road safety strategy with the reported measures being a step in the right direction. 'While many drivers over the age of 70 are safe and competent, health issues and confidence can have an impact on driving abilities, so it is sensible to review whether changes need to be made. 'We would also support reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales alongside measures to target drug-driving, however these would require significantly more backing for roads policing teams to effectively enforce new laws.' A Labour source said: 'At the end of the last Labour government, the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads was at a record low, but numbers have remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments. 'In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2 billion per year.' Meanwhile, the number of people killed in drink-driving incidents has risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022 and prompting concern that existing road safety measures are no longer working. Under the plans being considered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. This figure would be in line with Scotland – which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014 – and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high as that in England and Wales. The UK is also one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving, leading ministers to consider compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70 and a driving ban for those who fail. Other proposals are reported to include allowing the police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests rather than blood tests as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with drugs in their system. The Labour source added: 'This Labour Government will deliver the first road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads.' The strategy is due to be published in the autumn, and all proposals will be subject to consultation.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Overhaul of road safety laws ‘much overdue', experts say
Motoring groups have hailed Government plans to overhaul road safety laws as 'much overdue' and 'a step in the right direction'. Ministers are considering cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales and introducing mandatory eye tests for older drivers, according to The Times. The proposals, 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. On Britain's roads last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010. Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. 'This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade. 'We believe these new measures will not only modernise our approach to saving lives but also provide renewed momentum in making our roads safer for everyone.' Vision checks for older drivers and targeting drink and drug drivers are 'practical steps that can make a real difference', he said. But failing to introduce limits on new drivers transporting peer-age passengers for six months is 'a major oversight', he added. IAM RoadSmart director of policy and standards Nicholas Lyes said: 'Given progress on reducing fatal and serious collisions has stalled in recent years, we welcome the UK Government's ambition to publish an updated road safety strategy with the reported measures being a step in the right direction. 'While many drivers over the age of 70 are safe and competent, health issues and confidence can have an impact on driving abilities, so it is sensible to review whether changes need to be made. 'We would also support reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales alongside measures to target drug-driving, however these would require significantly more backing for roads policing teams to effectively enforce new laws.' A Labour source said: 'At the end of the last Labour government, the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads was at a record low, but numbers have remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments. 'In no other circumstance would we accept 1,600 people dying, with thousands more seriously injured, costing the NHS more than £2 billion per year.' Meanwhile, the number of people killed in drink-driving incidents has risen over the past decade, reaching a 13-year high in 2022 and prompting concern that existing road safety measures are no longer working. Under the plans being considered by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales could be cut from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. This figure would be in line with Scotland – which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014 – and the rest of Europe, where no other country has a limit as high as that in England and Wales. The UK is also one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving, leading ministers to consider compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70 and a driving ban for those who fail. Other proposals are reported to include allowing the police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests rather than blood tests as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with drugs in their system. The Labour source added: 'This Labour Government will deliver the first road safety strategy in a decade, imposing tougher penalties on those breaking the law, protecting road users and restoring order to our roads.' The strategy is due to be published in the autumn, and all proposals will be subject to consultation.
