Continue to lobby Government to lower the drink drive limit
As part of a range of commitments made to improve road safety, the PCC pledged to continue to lobby for a reduction in the drink drive limit to assist in reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries occurring on our roads nationally and locally.
Regular lobbying and awareness raising activity has been carried out across the term of office. For example, in December 2017, the PCC wrote to the then Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, setting out the case for lowering the drink drive limit. He highlighted how out of kilter England and Wales were from the rest of Europe and how early signs in Scotland had been encouraging following a reduction in the limit north of the border. The PCC suggested new initiatives to tackle a problem that has seen the number of drink drive related deaths plateau over recent years.
In April 2018, the PCC undertook a public consultation to understand Dorset residents’ views on the drink drive limit. More than 2,000 people responded, with 72% supporting a move to reduce the limit in line with Scotland and much of the rest of Europe. These local findings were consistent with the British Social Attitudes survey’s findings of 77% support nationally for lowering the limit. These findings have been shared with a number of interested parties and used for further lobbying for change.
In addition, the Commissioner continues to promote and raise awareness of the perils of drink and drug driving, supporting the annual summer and winter Dorset Police drink and drug driving campaigns. The PCC blogged on this issue in December 2018.
In 2019, the PCC has engaged with the Transport Select Committee to further lobby for a reduction in the drink drive limit. In April 2019 a Committee consultation on road safety provided an opportunity to highlight drink-driving as one area where the current Government approach to road safety could be improved; and in August 2019 the Commissioner responded to a road safety consultation on young and novice drivers where he also took the opportunity to lobby in general for a more effective response to drink driving.