Drink-drive offenders could keep licences

Drink drivers would no longer automatically lose their licences undergovernment plans to lower the alcohol limit for motorists to the equivalentof less than a pint of beer or glass of wine.

Those caught driving over the new limit would be subject to a “two strikes andyou’re out” rule under which they would receive six penalty points for thefirst offence and only be disqualified from driving if they reoffendedwithin five years.

Road safety groups fear that abolishing the automatic ban will send aconfusing message to motorists and encourage some to risk drinking anddriving because the consequences of being caught would be less serious thanthey are now.

The Times disclosed last year that ministers were planning to lower thelimit to 50milligrams of alcohol per 100millilitres of blood, from theexisting limit of 80mg.