Reduction in drink driving limit slammed

The government’s plan to cut legal alcohol limits for drivers has been slammed by the Western Cape’s No.1 anti-drink driving crusader, transport MEC Robin Carlisle.

The national transport department gazetted draft amendments to the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill on July 18, and chief among its provisions are for the maximum blood-alcohol levels to drop from 0.05g/100ml to 0.02g/100ml.

For professional drivers, the current limit drops to zero - in other words a complete ban on booze.

Carlisle said: “I have no scientific evidence - and to my knowledge there is none, anywhere in the world - that if you reduce the existing levels the number of accidents will decline.

“We have gone to great lengths - with great help from the media - to try to get people to change their behaviour.

“It’s my view that a very large number of people have done just that - they have changed the way they go out to restaurants, to parties, etc."

“I’m therefore reluctant to go back to them and say thank you for trying very hard for not exceeding your two drinks but now, however, I have a nasty surprise for you,” Carlisle said, referring to the proposed legislation.

In addition to Carlisle’s contention about a lack of scientific evidence in support of the cut, no experts or other industry sources could provide any proof that drivers who drank liquor up to the 0.05g level were more dangerous on the roads than those with up to 0.02g.

On the national government’s own official “Arrive Alive” website, both “social drinkers” and “habitual drinkers” are clearly described as “sober” up to the 0.05g level.

On this scale, only “social drinkers” who have upwards of 0.06g are described as “light(ly) (intoxicated)”.

“Habitual drinkers” require a little more alcohol to be as intoxicated as their “social” drinking counterparts.

But up to 0.09g they are still described as “sober” – in apparent contrast to the proposed legislation. (from IOL)