Random breath tests in battle to beat drink driving

Police may be able to carry out random breath tests on motorists to crack down on 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.

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.