Labour has set out plans in Parliament to change drink‑driving laws and introduce a wider road safety reform package, according to recent reporting. The proposals would represent the first significant overhaul of major driving laws since the Road Safety Act 2006, which shaped many current UK motoring offences and penalties.
Under the plans, Labour is examining reducing the legal alcohol limit for drivers in England and Wales from the current 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath (equivalent to 80 mg per 100 ml of blood) to 22 micrograms per 100 ml of breath — the same standard that Scotland has used since 2014. This would bring England and Wales closer to limits in many European countries.
As part of a broader Road Safety Strategy, ministers have said they want to tackle what they describe as persistent road death and serious injury rates, which they say have “stalled” in recent years. The proposed changes include not only the lower drink‑driving threshold but also powers to suspend licences of drivers suspected of drink or drug driving before court, and wider consideration of alcohol interlock devices (alcolocks) that could prevent vehicles starting if alcohol is detected.
Officials have also indicated other measures tied to road safety reform, such as mandatory vision testing for older drivers and changes affecting enforcement and penalties for several motoring offences.
The proposals have been described in media reporting as potentially “far‑reaching,” with ministers positioning the changes as efforts to improve safety across Britain’s roads.
About Freeman & Co.
Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.
The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.
Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.
The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.
If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.
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Our Details
Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ
Tel. 0161 236 7007
