Sedqa calls for lower alcohol limits for drivers

Agenzija Sedqa has called out on the authorities to lower the alcohol limit for drivers from the current 80mgs alcohol per decilitre of blood to 50mgs/dec instead.

"The current limit is one of the highest levels of blood alcohol content permissible in the EU member states, along with the UK and Ireland. The Irish will almost certainly be enacting legislation to lower the limit to 50mgs early in 2010. Out of the 27 EU member states, 16 have a limit of 50mgs/dec, while eight have a level ranging from 0mgs/dec to 20mgs/dec," Sedqa said.

"The lower the limit, the lower the number of fatal traffic accidents."

The agency also called for a revision of current regulations which do not allow the Police to administer breathalyzer tests at their discretion.

"Statistics show that arraignments in Court for drink-driving average about 10 a month - surely not a representation of the real situation especially when it is common knowledge that unfortunately many people drink and drive," the agency said.

The appeal made made at the launch of a drink-drive campaign which Sedqa is conducting over the festive period with Rotaract La Vallette Malta. Billboards have already been put up in prime locations in Marsa and St. Julian's urging people not to drink and drive.

Sina Bugeja, CEO of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, said that alcohol abuse and drinking and driving was one of the areas that Agenzija Sedqa never stopped working on, primarily through prevention and educational programmes supported by publicity campaigns.