TISPOL issues drink-driving recommendations

The European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL) has recommended that the UK lowers its blood alcohol limit to 0.5mg.

The UK and Malta are now the only countries in Europe to have a limit higher than 0.5mg per ml.
To help reduce the number of people dying in traffic incidents, TISPOL has also recommended even lower limits for professional drivers and those who have only recently passed their driving test.

Random testing for drugs and alcohol should also be introduced as well as the routine testing of any driver stopped by the police or involved in a collision.

Chief Superintendent Pasi Kemppainen, chair of TISPOL’s Alcohol and Drug Working Group, said: “Driving with illicit drugs in the system is a global issue of increasing concern.

He also said Britain’s drink-drive limit remains the most generous in Europe.

Referring to the recent session held by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, Mr Kemppainen said: “We are delighted that MPs recognise the value of learning from other countries when it comes to increased enforcement. Currently, only around three per cent of drivers in Britain are stopped and tested for alcohol, compared with the European average of 16 per cent.

“We believe that more visible, frequent and well-publicised enforcement of drink-driving legislation in Britain will help reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the country’s roads.”

He also said that enforcement or drink-driving legislation as well as screening methods, varied greatly throughout Europe.

“Enforcement of alcohol and drug legislation is one of the top three police priorities on the road in every European country, year-round. If we take a look at results from the recent TISPOL alcohol and drug operation in June 2010, there was one alcohol or drug offence detected every minute in Europe during the seven-day operation. It is worrying to say that this was only the tip of the iceberg. This is why police conduct alcohol and drug enforcement on our roads every day and every night. Offenders need to know that there is no safe time of the day or night to drive after drinking or using drugs.”

Skjelbred Larsen, TISPOL president, said: “Some countries have not faced the fact that there are far too many drug drivers on the road.

“Both Belgium and Spain have recently introduced efficient screening systems based on saliva testing, which saves time and allows many more drivers to be controlled. We urge governments to learn from the good practice that is in place, so that consistent, robust enforcement and wider random testing can provide the necessary back-up to drug-driving education programmes.”