§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Transport what research is planned by his Department to facilitate the identification and treatment of the high-risk drinking or repeated excess alcohol offender.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNew arrangements were introduced in May 1983 which enable the Department to identify, and consider the case of, anyone who is convicted twice within 10 years of driving with an alcohol concentration of more than 2.5 times the legal limit.
The next year should see, for the first time, a significant number of offenders coming within the scope of the procedure. We are planning at that stage to start a study of the characteristics of such drivers to help determine the most effective way of treating any drink problem they may have.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the conclusion reached in a recent Transport and Road Research Laboratory report about the risk of being caught whilst driving under the influence of alcohol; and whether he intends to take any action to increase drivers' perception of the risk of being detected.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe survey on which the report's conclusions are based was carried out some time ago. I hope that recent legislation and continued publicity and education will improve public awareness of all the risks of drinking and driving, including the risk of being detected for an offence.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to curb excessive drinking and driving during the Christmas holiday period.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe national advertising campaign designed to bring home the risks involved in drinking and driving was launched on 6 December. The campaign is particularly aimed at young drivers, who may not appreciate just how easily alcohol can impair their performance. It uses television, radio, posters and the press and will run until the new year.