Alcohol, drugs and driving – a call for change
Nacoa has endorsed a consensus statement on alcohol, drugs and driving that was developed by the British Medical Association alongside a wide range of stakeholders, from alcohol harm and medical organisations to police, emergency services groups, and road safety charities.
This statement includes recommendations which work together to reduce the harms caused by substance misuse on the road:
- Lowering the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving
- Ensuring adequate enforcement of new drink and current drug driving limits
- Educating the public
- Ensuring adequate alcohol and drug treatment services capacity and capabilities.
- Other preventative policy mechanisms to address alcohol and drug use.
Harm caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs places an avoidable burden on individuals and our society, emergency services, the NHS, and the economy.
We hope the new government will implement these measures to reduce the numbers of lives lost in collisions involving drivers under the influence. This must be alongside investment in treatment for those with addictions problems and their families.
If your organisation is interested in endorsing this statement, please email info.phh@bma.org.uk.
