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THE drink driving limits in the North are to be slashed in the coming months, prompting fears for the future of Fermanagh’s rural pubs and restaurants.
Inspector Roy Robinson told the Fermanagh Herald the new laws, which were decided upon in Stormont last year, would come into effect in the spring and there were still a lot of “undecided factors” regarding the new legislation.
What we do know is that the current limits, that have been in place since 1967, will be reduced from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath will be reduced to 22 micrograms per 100ml. For blood, the limit will be reduced from 80ml of alcohol per 100ml to 50 milligrams per 100ml.
The limits will be further reduced for learner and newly qualified drivers of up to two years, which will be dramatically reduced to 9 micrograms per 100ml of breath and 20ml per 100ml of blood. The new limits will being the North in line with the current laws south of the border.
“People who have had one drink will likely be over the new limit, and those subject to the lower limits will be over the limit very, very easily. The limit for those drivers is so low they could not have any alcohol at all,” said Insp Robinson, who added those caught with a reading between the current and new laws will be fixed penalty fine with the opportunity to do the drink driving course to reduce the number of penalty points they receive.
Insp Robinson, who said there would be plenty of warnings before they came into effect, said he welcomed the new limits: “There is so much traffic on the road these days it’s difficult enough driving in the dark never mind with alcohol consumed. I would rather there were was a zero limit, and people couldn’t drink at all.
That would help clear up a lot of confusion, because everyone is affected by alcohol so differently.
“If you drink and drive you risk your life, your passengers’, and others on the road, and you could end up going to jail. Don’t wish you had done something different. So many people have lost loved ones to drink drivers, and having to go see their families is absolutely heartbreaking.”
However, not everyone is happy with the incoming limits. One local restaurateur and publican, who did not wished to be named, said the news laws would “definitely” damage his business.
“A person coming out for one or two pints, or who would have one drink with their meal, is just not going to do it now,” he said. “Some people just come out to have a drink to meet other people, it’s a social outlet for them, this will definitely be the end of the road for that now.”
Insp Robinson said “if the new limits help reduce death and injury on the roads they will be worth it” and suggested some rural establishments could see the new laws as “a business opportunity” by starting a taxi business.
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