Irish motorists strongly in favor of reduction in drink driving limit, says AA

Irish motorists are strongly in support of the newly reduced drink drive limit says AA Ireland.  According to a nationally representative poll carried out by AA Ireland last year, over 80% of respondents said they were in favor of the drop in the legal drink drive limit from 80mg to 50mg. 

“50 mgs is the normal limit in most parts of Europe and indeed in most of the developed world.” Says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. “Ireland has been something of an anomaly with our higher 80 mg limit, and this new 50 mg limit finally brings us into line.”

The AA also believes that the decision to use a lesser punishment, short of a driving ban, where a driver is above 50 but below 80 mgs is an entirely sensible and practical measure.

“Accident risk increases markedly from 50 mgs upwards.” Says Faughnan. “However the AA believes that it is only fair to treat someone who is plainly drunk and willfully dangerous as being guilty of a more serious offence.”

“Drivers who are just above the limit – perhaps because they still have alcohol in their system from the night before – are dangerous and will be breaking the law, but in fairness it must be acknowledged that this is not the same as the deliberate drunk driver.”