Police set to launch random breath tests in battle to beat drink driving

Ministers are considering the move to cut the number of people getting behind the wheel while drunk.

Currently, officers can only stop a car to demand a breath test if it is being driven erratically or there has been a motoring offence.

Police may be able to carry out random breath tests to crack down on drink driving

Meanwhile, a new survey revealed that 40 per cent of women admit driving after drinking  -  one in 10 after having two small glasses of wine, which would have put them on the drink drive limit. Convictions of women for drink driving has risen by nearly 50 per cent over 10 years.

Six out of 10 men also said they had got behind the wheel after drinking, according to the study for breakdown firm Green Flag and safety campaigners Brake.

The Government is considering lowering the drink-drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

A Department for Transport source said: 'Drink-driving ruins lives. We are considering options, including looking at how to make it easier for police to enforce against it.'

A lower limit for drivers under 21 has been rejected because of concerns it could be seen as tacit approval for older drivers to drink.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths from drink-drive accidents in Britain fell sharply last year, dipping 18 per cent on the 2006 figure, according to Government figures released  today.

There were 460 fatalities in 2007 compared with 560 in 2006, the Department for Transport said.

The 2007 fatality figure is the lowest since 1999 and compares with a figure as high as 580 in 2003 and also in 2004.