Convicted drink-drivers face being forced to fit breathalysers to their cars that prevent the ignition from starting if a person is over the limit, under a major overhaul of road safety in the UK.
The Government also stands poised to lower the alcohol limit in England and Wales, amid growing concerns that younger generations of drivers are willing to flout drink-drive laws.
Ministers will also consider new powers to suspend driving licences for motorists suspected of drink or drug-driving.
It comes as part of what the Government is billing as the biggest shake-up of road safety laws in more than a decade. It is also likely to usher in mandatory eye tests for motorists over 70, minimum learning periods of up to six months for learner drivers and tougher laws on illegal or “ghost” numberplates.
Ministers are taking action in a bid to cut deaths and serious injuries on British roads by 65 per cent by 2035, and by 70 per cent for children under 16.
Under the plans, officials will look at requiring some drink-drive offenders to have “alcolocks” installed in their vehicles as a condition of being allowed to drive again.
These are devices which prevent a vehicle from being started or driven unless the motorist passes a breath test. They are already used in several countries – such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the US – in return for shorter driving bans.
While the full extent of their deployment is yet to be determined, it is understood they will not be mandated, but are likely to be used to tackle repeat offenders.
The number of road fatalities caused by drink-driving has risen in recent years, with one in six deaths caused by people being under the influence of alcohol while behind the wheel in 2023.
A recent survey showed that Gen Z drivers were more likely to say that drinking and driving was more “socially acceptable”, suggesting that those aged 18-27 had “not got the message” on the dangers of drink-driving.
The Department for Transport will launch a consultation on lowering the drink-drive limit. The current limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, which is the highest in Europe alongside Malta.
Under the strategy, this may be reduced to 22 micrograms in England and Wales, bringing those nations into line with Scotland, which cut its drink-drive limit in 2014.
The power to reduce Northern Ireland’s drink-drive limit is devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
22 European countries have made “more progress than the UK” in reducing road crash deaths, the Department for Transport said.
The number of people killed on Britain’s roads has declined since the 1970s but the decrease has slowed from 2010.
There were 7,763 road deaths in 1972, 1,850 in 2010 and 1,602 in 2024.
The Government will also consult on bringing in mandatory eye tests for over-70s, while also looking at introducing cognitive assessments for older drivers due to concerns over the lack of self-reporting of medical conditions, such as dementia.
Drivers are currently not subjected to mandatory eye tests once they obtain their licence, no matter how old they become, although they are required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are no longer fit to drive.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.
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“We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”
AA president Edmund King described the strategy as a “radical reframing of road safety”, while RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said it “can’t come soon enough” and he particularly welcomed the long-waited reintroduction of casualty reduction targets.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at charity IAM RoadSmart, said the measures are “robust policies to make our roads safer” following a “lost decade” in reducing deaths and serious injuries from crashes.
