There were 560 deaths caused by drink-driving in 2002

Commission for Integrated Transport chairman David Begg said tough action was needed to stop unnecessary deaths.

If the current limit of 80mg alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood was reduced to 50mg, about 50 lives a year could be saved, he said.

Britain has one of the highest permissible blood alcohol limit levels in Europe.

Many other countries stipulate the 50mg limit.

Breath tests

Mr Begg cited an "unacceptable upward trend" in UK drink-drive fatalities in recent years.

Cutting the carnage by introducing limits common in Europe...should save lives David Begg How many units is my drink?

He also said legislation was needed to ensure roadside breath tests could be used as evidence in court.

"We rightly expect airline pilots and our train, tube and bus drivers to be stone cold sober on duty so it's time to review the levels of alcohol acceptable in the drivers on our roads", he said.

He urged swift action from the government to tighten drink-drive laws, pointing out that it was now five years since it had launched a consultation document saying it was "minded" to reduce the limit to 50mg.

Drink-driving 'rife'

"Cutting the carnage by introducing limits common in Europe, better targeted enforcement and making roadside breath tests available as evidence in court should save lives, save cost and save time," he added.

Mr Begg's plea comes a day after a survey was published suggesting half of Britain's drivers and motorcyclists admit to drinking before driving.

The research by road safety charity Brake for Green Flag Motoring Assistance, also revealed one in three said they had driven after drinking two units of alcohol, and 10% had driven after drinking three units.

A quarter had drink-driven knowing that their driving had been affected by alcohol.