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Speeding plan 'too little and late'
21.11.08
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The family of two boys killed by ex-Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick in a crash on the M6 said measures to crack down on speeding motorists and drink-and-drug drivers were too little, too late.
Phil and Amanda Peak lost their sons Arron, 10, and Ben, eight, after McCormick's Range Rover hit their people carrier on the motorway near Stoke-on-Trent in June. McCormick is serving a seven-year sentence after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.
Mrs Peak questioned why the Government had not brought in a lower drink-drive level earlier, while Mr Peak said motorists who exceed the speed limit by large amounts should be banned straight away. Mrs Peak also urged the UK to come into line with countries such as Sweden and Poland, which have an extremely low legal blood-alcohol limit.
The British Medical Association (BMA) backed the call, saying a lower legal blood alcohol limit was needed to cut road deaths. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, said: "The science is clear: a 50mg limit would lower the number of road crashes, deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
"The introduction of the current limit, backed up by police enforcement and a hard-hitting media campaign, led to a dramatic fall in the number of deaths on the road, but the position has been stagnant since 1993. We need a new impetus, with a lower limit, to reduce the 2,946 deaths and around 30,000 injuries that occurred on Britain's roads last year."
The BMA would continue to lobby the Government to lower the limit, she added.
The Government proposals were announced by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. Ministers are to provide £2 million to fund the introduction of digital breath-testing equipment to free up police resources, as well as helping forces to introduce targeted drink-drive checkpoints to strengthen deterrence.
The Government will also consult on the question of reducing the legal alcohol limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Mr Fitzpatrick said there would be a "very serious discussion" about whether to lower the limit during the consultation on the new proposals.
He also said the Government was planning to remove an outdated option for drivers caught moderately above the drink-drive limit to request a second test by a doctor and potentially fall back under the limit while waiting for them to arrive.
Other proposals made include the possible creation of a new offence to bring drug-driving more into line with drink-driving, which would make it illegal to drive after taking a drug "which is both illegal and impairing". The Government is also proposing to introduce a higher tariff of six penalty points on a licence for drivers who exceed the speed limit by a dangerous and very large margin - for example by more than 20mph. This would mean motorists could lose their licence for two serious speeding offences.
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Too little and too late, is Brown's middle name.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
