§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the drink-drive campaign undertaken by his Department during the Christmas holiday period, including the cost and efficiency of the campaign, and the planned follow-up during 1986; and if there are any plans to introduce random breath testing.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Christmas drink-drive campaign.
§ Mr. RidleyI have asked for a full report on the campaign, the publicity for which cost £1.4 million. This will require an analysis of national accident and breath testing data.
Existing legislation sets out clearly the circumstances in which the police may require a breath test. These are:
—if there is reasonable cause to suspect the motorist of driving, attempting to drive or having driven, with alcohol in his body—if there is reasonable cause to suspect him of having committed a moving traffic offence—if he has been involved in an accidentThere are no powers to carry out breath tests other than in these circumstances, and I have no plans to propose such powers. Nor do I have plans to change the existing legal limit.