FLEET managers must mount a massive awareness campaign to educate company car drivers about the dangers of drink-driving before a likely reduction in the blood-alcohol limit. The Government is expected to introduce legislation cutting the current 80mg limit per 100ml of blood to 50mg within the next year - virtually halving the amount of alcohol a driver can drink before risking his licence.

This week the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents backed the proposals and added momentum to the campaign by calling for new powers allowing random breath tests. And Lease Plan is warning its clients to draw up new contracts of employment threatening company car drivers with dismissal if they lose their licence, but most contract hire companies and fleet managers agree that educating drivers will be more effective than threats.

The company is predicting a higher incidence of breath test failures. An earlier survey found that 37% would lose their jobs if they lost their licence. Managing director Vahid Daemi said: 'Employers need to assess the potential effect of more drivers losing their licences and seriously look at their employment contracts to establish whether to add a clause regarding drink-driving.'

While not condoning drink-driving, the majority of fleet managers and leasing companies said a more flexible approach was needed.