0.05 inaction a huge opportunity missed

Alcohol Healthwatch media release 26 July 2010

Alcohol Healthwatch is extremely disappointed with today’s Cabinet decision not to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for driving to 50mg alcohol/100ml (0.05) blood.

Director Rebecca Williams described the decision as "gutless", and said delaying reducing the limit in favour of undertaking more research was a cop out. Families and communities will continue to pay a hideously high price as a result.

“We simply do not need more research to tell us this will effectively save lives and reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes on our roads,” she said.

“An extensive body of evidence already exists that shows lowering the BAC to 0.05 works. The overwhelming conclusion of nearly 300 studies is that essential driving skills are significantly impaired at our current legal limit of 0.08, and that this impairment has already begun at the 0.05 level.

“We also know that the costs of implementing this intervention are relatively small as all the basic infrastructure is already in place.”

Ms Williams says lack of public support cannot be used as an excuse either, as community support for lowering the BAC is positive and growing.

A recent online UMR public opinion survey this year found that 70 percent of New Zealanders supported lowering the limit to 0.05. And the latest Ministry of Transport Public Attitudes to Road Safety Survey (2009) shows that 85 percent of those surveyed thought drivers should be limited to two or fewer drinks.

“This closely equates to a 0.05 level and clearly demonstrates that the vast majority of New Zealanders would support it.”

She said support had been further evidenced by 98 percent of submitters to the Law Commission on its review of alcohol laws wanting the BAC lowered to 0.05.

Ms Williams said the National Road Safety Strategy to 2020 would be undermined by the government’s lack of action.

“A conservative estimate is we can save 14 lives, not to mention 640 injuries a year by adopting the lower limit. It is doubtful any other single strategy will be as effective at reducing our road toll.

“This is a regrettable failure that leaves our Government with blood on its hands.”

Ends

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