Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1055: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) regarding the new Road Traffic Act, which will lower the current blood alcohol limit of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood to 50 mg per 100 mL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23245/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The new lower blood alcohol limits are contained in the Road Traffic Act 2010. The recommendations to lower the drink driving limits were informed by a number of issues including known driver behaviour, past offending rates, enforcement practicalities, best international practice and analysis of data held by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.

Alcohol, even in small amounts, has well recognised effects on driver capacity. These effects include psychomotor skills, cognitive functioning, choice and simple reaction times, visual function, vigilance, perception as well as a person's ability to divide attention and absorb information can all be affected by alcohol consumption. By reducing the limits, we will be helping to reduce driver error, the risk of involvement in collisions, deaths and serious injuries as well as the cost to the State.