We shall continue to emphasise that the only really safe option is never to drink and drive

David Jamieson Transport Minister

The Campaign Against Drinking and Driving (CADD) said it felt "let down" by the decision, while the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) said it was a "missed opportunity".

The announcement was welcomed by the RAC Foundation which said no evidence linked lower limits to fewer accidents.

Mr Jamieson said the government had looked closely at the arguments for and against a change in the limit.

Campaigners 'let down'

"There can be little doubt that our approach of powerful publicity and enforcement, backed by strong penalties, has achieved the two-thirds reduction in drink drive deaths since the 1970s, and given us one of the best overall road safety records in the EU.

"But there is a lot more to be done. We shall continue to emphasise that the only really safe option is never to drink and drive."

We would like to see novice drivers being given a lower limit - even as low as 20mg

Roger Vincent Rospa

CADD's secretary Jane Everson, whose son Gareth, 19, was killed by a teenage drink-driver in May 1998, said: "We feel badly let down by this.

"Other European countries have lower limits. I can't understand why the British Government does not fall into line.

"It is estimated that a lower limit would prevent 50 deaths and 250 injuries a year."

Rospa spokesman Roger Vincent said: "Annual drink-drive deaths rose slightly in 2000 and we fear that the anti drink-drive message is not getting through to young people.

Fewer accidents

"We would like to see novice drivers being given a lower limit - even as low as 20mg."

RAC Foundation executive director Edmund King said: "There is no evidence that lower limits lead to fewer accidents and we think drivers understand, and respect, the current 80mgs limit.

Hard-hitting ad campaigns have reduced deaths

"The majority of drivers killed in drink-drive incidents are more than twice over the UK limit.

"Let's enforce the current limit and target hardcore drink-drive offenders."

The UK Government consulted on drink driving in 1998 but waited upon proposals from Europe before considering the matter further.

No firm legislation was forthcoming from the EU but the commission, in 2001, adopted a recommendation on harmonising the maximum limit for motorists in Europe.

The UK is one of four member states that have limits above 50mg. The others are Ireland, Italy and Luxembourg.

Decrease in deaths

Before government anti drink-drive campaigns begun in the late 1970s there were as many as 2,000 road deaths a year in drink-drive related offences.

Gradually, the annual figure came down - from 1,640 in 1979 to just 460 in 1999.

The provisional figure for 2000 showed a slight rise to 520.

According to figures for 1999, 180 of the 460 drink-drive fatalities were among 20 to 29-year-olds, with only 70 deaths involving drivers aged 40 or more.

There were around 715,000 breath tests administered in England and Wales in 2000, compared with just 164,000 in 1979.