Overview

• The plan would lower the current 35µg per 100ml breath limit in England and Wales to 22µg to match Scotland’s threshold
• Proposals include permitting roadside saliva tests as admissible evidence to speed up drug-driving prosecutions
• New car models would be required to be compatible with alcohol interlocks, with mandatory fitting for repeat offenders under EU GSR2 rules
• A full consultation on the autumn package will precede primary legislation or regulatory changes expected in 2026
• Officials cite 6,310 alcohol-related casualties and a decade-long 78% rise in drug-driving deaths as the rationale for tougher measures