The family of a woman killed in a drink-driving crash have welcomed changes to the alcohol limit.
Lillie Clack, 22, from Morden in southwest London, was one of six people in a car that flipped after hitting a tree and caught fire following a police chase in the early hours of Christmas Day in 2021.
Charlie Hilton, who was driving the vehicle, was jailed in 2023 for causing death by dangerous driving and driving above the alcohol limit.
The limit for drink-driving in England and Wales is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, which is the highest number in Europe, alongside Malta. New proposals look to reduce this to 22 micrograms.
Debbie Clack, Lillie’s mother, told the BBC: "When my daughter Lillie was killed, my heart was ripped from my chest - part of me died that day. Lillie was my light and my soul.
"I am deeply grateful to the government for taking this issue seriously."
The new strategy would require the cars of some convicted drink-drivers to have alcolocks, equipment which fits a car that prevents it from being driven unless the driver can pass a breath test.
Alcolocks are already in use in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the US, in exchange for shorter driving bans.
The proposal also includes new powers to suspend the driving licences of people suspected of drink or drug-driving offences.
Lillie's family have called for the immediate suspension of the driving licences of people who cause death while driving.
Debbie went on: "The main aim of Lillie's Law is to prevent other families from enduring the torment of knowing that people who kill someone while driving are still allowed behind the wheel after causing a death,
"This change in the law would offer families some comfort, knowing these individuals cannot legally drive until they have appeared in court, reducing the risk of another life being taken."
The government’s initiative hopes to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035, and by 70% for children under 16.
The Department for Transport said that 22 European countries had made "more progress than the UK" in reducing the number of road crash deaths.
The number of fatalities on Britain’s roads has broadly declined since the 1970s, but this progress has slowed since 2010.
In 1972, there were 7,763 road deaths, 1,850 in 2010 and 1,602 in 2024.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said: "Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities.
"We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade."
The proposals would align the drink-drive limit in England and Wales with Scotland, which was reduced in 2014.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of charity Drinkaware, highlighted that the number of drink-driving collisions which led to fatalities had nearly doubled since 2015, so it was "vital that this change is coupled with strong enforcement".
