Lower drink drive limits proposed

Monday 19 December 2016

Jersey’s legal drink drive limit could be almost halved by 2018.

Currently the limit is 80mg/ml of blood but under new proposals being put forward by the Department of Infrastructure that could soon be cut to 50mg/ml.

The Channel Islands are one of only a handful of jurisdictions to have the higher limit. The change would bring the Island in line with most of the rest of Europe. In Norway and Sweden the limit is 20mg/ml.

Last year there were 138 convictions for drink driving in the Island. The department says although the number of drink-drive injuries has fallen dramatically since the highs of the 70s and 80s, it is still one of the major causes of serious road accidents locally.

Over the next two years the department also wants to cut speed limits and introduce more 30 mile an hour areas. There are no plans though to make that a blanket all-Island limit.

A penalty points system along the lines currently operated in the UK is also being considered. The department claims evidence suggests the threat of disqualification discourages bad road behaviour. Under the scheme there is less tolerance for young drivers who break the law. Because of the complexity of making the change to the legislation, it’s likely nothing will get done until 2019.