Health professionals are calling for Northern Ireland’s drink driving limit to be reduced.
It is one of the highest limits in Europe, with 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood or 35mg per 100ml of breath.
However the British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for the limit to be reduced to almost half.
It comes as the latest statistics from the Department for Infrastructure revealed 296 people were killed or seriously injured between 2018 and 2022 in crashes where the driver’s impairment by alcohol was the primary cause.
Male drivers were responsible for 80% of collisions where alcohol was the primary cause, with drivers aged 17 to 49 responsible for 82% of drink driving collisions which were fatal or caused serious injury.
The BMA NI has joined the UK wide initiative which sets out key actions to tackle the issue.
A spokesperson said: “Harm caused by alcohol and other drugs, including when driving under the influence, places an avoidable burden on individuals and our society, emergency services, the NHS, and the economy.
“Therefore, the BMA, in collaboration with a range of organisations have developed this consensus statement. It covers actions which, if adopted, would enable progress towards reducing substance use harm, particularly harm caused to road users.”
Members will lobby the UK government and devolved administrations for the changes, including lowering the limit to 50mg per 100ml of blood, or 20mg for new and commercial drivers.
Other measures include enhanced enforcement and education of the limits, mandatory labelling of alcohol products and ensuring those found driving over the legal limits undertake compulsory awareness courses.