Madam, – Far from reducing deaths, lowering the drink-drive limit could increase casualties by diverting police resources; it would be better to pursue those actually committing some form of dangerous driving rather than trawling (with random testing) for those who might be a danger.
The majority of accidents are caused by deliberate dangerous driving, inattentiveness, tiredness or illness. The Road Safety Authority (RSA), Automobile Association and Department of Transport trivialise and ignore these things in order to avoid taking draconian but effective action which would upset motorists and the road lobby. These would include action such as lowering speed limits, introducing more hidden cameras and physical impediments as well as providing further footpaths and crossings for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
The RSA’s so-called “scientific evidence” is no more than the misuse of statistical data gleaned from accident reports. No one would deny that being noticeably drunk impairs driving ability, but the RSA’s claim that “any measurable amount of alcohol” does is nonsense. Ethanol (alcohol) is produced naturally in the human gut by heterolactic fermentation and dysbiosis and is found in fruit and other foods; small amounts of alcohol in the blood stream are quite normal. Most people function perfectly normally after a pint or two; if, for example, their ability to play the piano, tennis or to speak Latin is unimpaired, why should driving be any different?
Collectively, road accidents are not accidental at all, but a sacrifice we willingly make justified by no more than convenience. The only answer is the gradual abolition of private motor vehicles. But this is unthinkable; we are in a state of denial; we self-righteously and hypocritically delude ourselves rather than admit that cars turn us all into potential killers.
The casual use of private cars should never have been allowed in the first place; they are far too dangerous. Car dependency, lack of public transport and climate change, among other things, makes catastrophe inevitable. – Yours, etc,