What are the present legal limits?

The present limits are:

• 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (0.08)
• 107 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine or
• 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath

Why is the RSA recommending to Government to reduce the BAC from 0.08 to 0.05?

All of the available evidence from research indicates that reducing the legal limit of BAC to 0.05 will reduce the incidence of road collisions and consequently will save lives and prevent serious injuries.

When the limit was reduced from 0.08 to 0.05 in New South Wales, fatal collisions fell by 8% and serious collisions by 7%. In Queensland, fatal collisions fell by 18% and serious collisions by 14%. (Henstridge, et al, 1997 quoted in Bedford, et al, 2005)

What is the evidence to support this recommendation?

The literature on the effects of alcohol on driving is very extensive and very consistent; alcohol in almost any amount impairs driving or driving related skills. Moskowitz & Robinson, 1988, reviewed 177 studies and Moskowitz & Fiorentino, 2000, reviewed 112 studies in reports by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in the USA.

Analysis provided by the Policy Advisory Panel to the RSA indicates that between 5 to 10 lives and 50 to 100 serious injuries could be avoided annually. When this is combined with other enforcement activities, particularly a reduction in average speed across the road network, the figures for lives saved and serious injuries prevented will increase (RSA, 2008).

When will the new limits be introduced?

The Minister for Transport has stated that the Road Traffic Bill 2009 will be published in Autumn 2009.

How do we know this action will save lives and prevent injuries?

Reducing the BAC will save lives and prevent serious injuries. It is one of many measures designed to bring Ireland into the company of ‘best practice’ countries. Reducing the BAC is most effective when the average speed across the road network falls – even by as little as 5km/h. It is the combination of alcohol and speed that is catastrophic, particularly for young and inexperienced drivers.

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