Drunk drivers still getting behind the wheel in spite of lower limits

DRUNK DRIVERS STILL GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL IN SPITE OF LOWER LIMITS

‘More awareness on drink driving risks required’

Slashing drink-driving alcohol limits had little to no impact on traffic accidents, with intoxicated motorists still getting behind the wheel, according to insurers.

Alcohol limits for motorists were slashed to almost half in January last year but the impact was so “minimal” that insurance companies reporting no improvements in accidents involving drivers who had consumed extra drink.

Speaking to the Times of Malta ahead of a conference on drink-driving next month, Malta Insurers Association head Adrian Galea reiterated concerns that the changes to laws were not effective, insisting that the number of people caught drunk behind the wheel was not realistic.

“When one considers that, over the past five years, 946 people were arraigned over drink-driving charges and of these only 548 were found guilty, it is clear not enough is being done,” Mr Galea said.

While the insurers were “happy” with the government’s decision to slash the limits, something which they had argued in favour of for years, the changes were “not of

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As reported on the Times of Malta on Monday, March 25, 2019, by Ms Claire Caruana