HC Deb 09 December 1968 vol 775 cc1-3
1. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Minister of Transport what is his present policy regarding random breath tests.

2. Mr. William Price

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to introduce proposals for random breathalyser tests.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Richard Marsh)

I have no plans for any change in the law at present.

Mr. Davidson

Is there any evidence to suggest that some drivers are becoming more complacent and "slap-happy" about driving and drinking than they were soon after the breathalyser was introduced, and, if there is such evidence, short of introducing random breath tests, which my right hon. Friend is right to turn his mind against, in my view, has my right hon. Friend any plan to halt such a regrettable tendency shortly before Christmas?

Mr. Marsh

Casualty savings are still very high. In September, for example, the saving compared with September last year was 7 per cent., and deaths were down 15 per cent. Any drivers who are becoming careless about it are very foolish, because these are savings which we could not afford to lose.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Will the Minister confirm that, in spite of what he said at a meeting a week or two ago, the police intend to prosecute only those people whom they genuinely believe to be suffering under the influence of drink?

Mr. Marsh

I have never said anything different from that which the hon. Gentleman has just said. The police are responsible for enforcing the law. The only point that I made was that the law makes no exception for people driving away from public houses. The public sometimes assume that a driver doing that is in some way sacrosanct.

Mrs. Thatcher

Will the right hon. Gentleman make clear that, so far as his Department is concerned, he does not retreat in any way from the assurance given on the Second Reading of the second Road Safety Bill, that there was no question of the police setting up traps just round the corner from public houses and waiting to pounce? Does he stand by that?

Mr. Marsh

The position is perfectly clear. Random tests were not contemplated and they are not the case now. The only point I was making in the discusion which I had with a journalist was that, if a person is moving away from a public house at night and seems to be unsteady on his feet, it is at least as likely that he may have been drinking as if he were coming from a church.

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