THERE IS some confusion over the timing of plans to lower the legal blood-alcohol level for drivers following seemingly contradictory statements from Tánaiste Brian Cowen and the Department of Transport yesterday.
Mr Cowen, speaking in the Dáil yesterday, said the Government had given the issue of lowering the blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood “no decision or consideration”, adding that it was at an early stage of its deliberations on the matter.
However, the Department of Transport yesterday published the report of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) which recommends the lowering of the limit, and further recommends that the BAC limit for newly-qualified drivers be 20mg.
In the note accompanying the report, Working to Save Lives, the department says: “It was agreed to publish this report, which will be taken into account in drawing up the new Road Traffic Act.
“The heads of this new Act will be submitted to Government for approval by the summer, with the objective of having the Bill drafted and enacted in the second half of this year.”
A spokeswoman for Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said the Government’s road-safety strategy, published last October, was explicit in stating that the legislation to lower the limits from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50 mg would be in place by the summer of 2009.
The department was currently working on preparing that legislation, said the spokeswoman.
However, asked about this matter during the order of business yesterday, Mr Cowen was less specific about the status of the plans.
“This is an issue on which reports were sought from the RSA and others about how they view a reduction in the limit. We have noted what they have had to say but there has been no decision or consideration by Government of that matter.
“It is important to point out that one would have to consider a full comprehensive assessment of what proportionate penalties should apply were one to go down that road. Much more discussion and consideration of that matter must take place before the Government would be ready to consider any change at the moment,” he said.
He added that legislation would be required, but added that the Government was at a “preliminary stage in our considerations”.
The RSA report outlines its rationale for reducing the limit before recommending the reduction. In a covering letter from CEO Noel Brett, dated April 3th, the RSA further recommends that the BAC level for learner and newly-qualified drivers be reduced to 20 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. This should be implemented as part of a graduated driving licensing system, according to Mr Brett.