Motorists could find themselves over the limit after drinking less than a pint of beer in the most radical reform of drink-drive laws for more than 40 years.
An official review, expected to be published within weeks, is expected to recommend bringing Britain into line with most of Europe by slashing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
It is likely to conclude that the move would prevent up to 65 deaths and 230 serious injuries a year.
Breath test: An official review is expected to recommend slashing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
The findings will present new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond with a dilemma, since the Tories opposed reductions in the drink-drive limit in opposition. Instead, they suggested improved enforcement of existing rules.
But insiders say it will be difficult for Mr Hammond to dismiss out of hand the findings of a comprehensive review concluding there is 'a strong case' for a lower limit.
Road safety groups are also calling for a shake-up of the law.
The current 80mg limit allows a man of average build to drink between one-and-a-half and two pints of normal strength beer or three small glasses of wine and remain within the law.
With a 50mg limit, the average man would be limited to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and women to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.
Critics say a lower limit will criminalise thousands of motorists and force some country pubs to close.
But Sir Peter North, an academic commissioned by the Labour government to review drink and drug driving laws, is understood to have been persuaded a change in the law is justified by evidence on the number of casualties that could be avoided.
Doctors have claimed the change would save the economy ?120million a year by reducing medical costs and lost working time.
Sir Peter is thought to have considered recommending an even lower limit - just 20mg - for new and learner motorists and HGV drivers.
Penalties for drivers breaking the new limit could be reduced. Currently, anyone caught drink- driving faces a minimum ban of 12 months and a ?5,000 fine. But most nations with lower limits only fine drivers or give them points for minor breaches.
Shorter bans could be introduced for breaches of between 50mg and 79mg, or even three penalty points on a driver's licence, a fine, or attendance at a drink awareness course.
A new law on drug-driving is also likely amid concern about the number of motorists driving under the influence of narcotics or prescription medicines.
It is expected to become illegal to drive under the influence of prescribed drugs or in excess of specified drug limits, which can be tested using new 'drugalyser' devices.
Currently, to secure a conviction, police have to prove a motorist's driving has been directly impaired by a drug. Its mere presence does not provide enough evidence for a guilty verdict.
The AA says polls suggest 66 per cent of motorists would support a lower drink drive limit, with just 20 per cent opposed.
The Scottish Government has already said it intends to lower the drink-drive threshold.
Drivers could be over limit after less than a pint under new law | Mail Online
An official review, expected to be published within weeks, is expected to recommend bringing Britain into line with most of Europe by slashing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
It is likely to conclude that the move would prevent up to 65 deaths and 230 serious injuries a year.
Breath test: An official review is expected to recommend slashing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. The findings will present new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond with a dilemma, since the Tories opposed reductions in the drink-drive limit in opposition. Instead, they suggested improved enforcement of existing rules.
But insiders say it will be difficult for Mr Hammond to dismiss out of hand the findings of a comprehensive review concluding there is 'a strong case' for a lower limit.
Road safety groups are also calling for a shake-up of the law.
The current 80mg limit allows a man of average build to drink between one-and-a-half and two pints of normal strength beer or three small glasses of wine and remain within the law.
With a 50mg limit, the average man would be limited to just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and women to half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.
Critics say a lower limit will criminalise thousands of motorists and force some country pubs to close.
But Sir Peter North, an academic commissioned by the Labour government to review drink and drug driving laws, is understood to have been persuaded a change in the law is justified by evidence on the number of casualties that could be avoided.
Doctors have claimed the change would save the economy ?120million a year by reducing medical costs and lost working time.
Sir Peter is thought to have considered recommending an even lower limit - just 20mg - for new and learner motorists and HGV drivers.
Penalties for drivers breaking the new limit could be reduced. Currently, anyone caught drink- driving faces a minimum ban of 12 months and a ?5,000 fine. But most nations with lower limits only fine drivers or give them points for minor breaches.
Shorter bans could be introduced for breaches of between 50mg and 79mg, or even three penalty points on a driver's licence, a fine, or attendance at a drink awareness course.
A new law on drug-driving is also likely amid concern about the number of motorists driving under the influence of narcotics or prescription medicines.
It is expected to become illegal to drive under the influence of prescribed drugs or in excess of specified drug limits, which can be tested using new 'drugalyser' devices.
Currently, to secure a conviction, police have to prove a motorist's driving has been directly impaired by a drug. Its mere presence does not provide enough evidence for a guilty verdict.
The AA says polls suggest 66 per cent of motorists would support a lower drink drive limit, with just 20 per cent opposed.
The Scottish Government has already said it intends to lower the drink-drive threshold.
Drivers could be over limit after less than a pint under new law | Mail Online
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