The blood-alcohol limit in drink-driving law should be reduced to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to prevent the number of road deaths in the UK, according to a government-commissioned review.

The study said cutting the current limit of drink-driving could save more than 150 lives a year in the UK, bringing it in line with the rest of Europe.

A driver is expected to face six times greater risk of road death than a non-drinking driver between the proposed new limit and the current limit at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

UK-based scholar Sir Peter North, who prepared the review, also sought a lengthy ban of up to 12 months for drink drivers at the proposed new limit.