Drink driving penalties not severe enough
Three quarters of motorists believe the police should do more to tackle drink driving and the penalties should be more severe.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults carried out by personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense, 75% believe police should have the power to suspend a motorist’s driving licence at the roadside if they test over the limit, while 73% say police should be allowed to seize the vehicle.
A further 70% back the introduction of random breath testing in England and Wales, with 82% believing drivers should be suspended while under investigation for drink or drug diving offences involving a fatality or serious injury.
The results come with the government’s expected to announce results of its Road Safety Strategy consultation.
Swift action
Hunter Abbott, managing director of AlcoSense Laboratories, said: “Our research indicates a demand for swift and visible enforcement measures, particularly where drivers are involved in serious incidents and fail or refuse breath tests.
“There is a growing sense that the consequences of drink or drug driving should be immediate, rather than waiting months for court proceedings to conclude.
“The public appears to support a combination of lower limits, stronger Police enforcement and better use of preventative measures such as alcolocks.”
