Drink-drive plan splits islanders

PROPOSED changes to the drink-drive law are dividing the public. The Home Department may go to the States in April with a plan to reduce it from 80 to 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

'I honestly think that the limit should be cut to zero,' said Paul Ockleford, who works at Goldridge de Beauvoir and is Junior Island football team manager.

'If you want to drive, then you should not drink. If we had zero tolerance, then everybody knows where they stood.'

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling last week rejected calls for the UK to adopt similar proposals, but said that he would keep the drink-drive limit under review.

Finance worker Dave Sheil said: 'It is probably a bit severe. We should keep it the same as the UK. If we go lower, I feel that the measures are in danger of becoming a bit draconian. We already give more severe penalties and that is enough of a deterrent.'

Sheryl Carman is a live-in carer who works in Guernsey but lives in Normandy.

'Living in France, we are used to the limit being lower than here or the UK and it is probably safer,' she said.

'Here, the speeds are slower but the traffic is going along smaller and narrower roads, so something has to be done. People will accept it when the change is made, so I definitely support it.'

'It has to be a good idea,' said finance worker Samantha Tapp, who lives in St Sampson's.

'There is no real reason to drink and drive at all. You cannot really make it zero because of the anomalies, but in the long-term, the stricter the measures the better.'

Musician Dave Fuller said that it was not a bad idea to cut the limit to 50mg, but if he drove, he would never drink.

Retail worker Vanessa Innes, who lives in St Martin's, said: 'Really, I suppose you should drink nothing when you are driving. At the moment, it is difficult to tell if you are going to be over the limit, but making the level zero would be a bit harsh so I think the proposals are about right.

'This sort of stricter measure is especially needed for the younger people.'