The Dáil has passed a new Road Traffic Bill to reduce the drink drive limit in Ireland. Provision for a new blood alcohol limit of 50mg - replacing the current 80mg - is contained in the Road Traffic Bill.
A lower limit of 20mg is proposed for learner and professional drivers. The new limits bring Ireland into line with most other European countries and have been welcomed by the RSA and The AA. The Minister for Transport T.D, Noel Dempsey, said that the new limits would not have a negative impact on rural pubs.
A new sanction system for offenders is also proposed in the new Bill. First time offenders (caught between 50- and 80mg) will be given three penalty points and a fine of €200 fine if they do not challenge the conviction in court, but they would escape a driving ban.
The UK is also considering a 50mg limit after a (UK) Government commissioned report recommending a reduction.
Director of Policy at The AA, Conor Faughnan said: "50mg is the normal limit in most parts of Europe and indeed in most of the developed world."
An AA survey of its members last October showed 63.9 percent were in favour of reducing the alcohol limit to 50mg while 27.9 percent of respondents were opposed to the change.
Faughnan commented: "Any way you slice it, it is abundantly clear that Irish motorists understand the drink driving issue and want to see the limit lowered."