Photo: © 2009 AAP/JULIAN SMITH

The University of Adelaide study found that a blood alcohol limit of 0.15 for pedestrians could save some ten "drink-walkers" who die on the state's roads each year.

"People don’t like drunks rolling about the streets," senior researcher for the Centre of Automotive Safety Research and author of the study, Paul Hutchinson, told The Advertiser.

"As one public health advocate put it, 'We have a blood alcohol limit for driving, why not for people walking next to traffic?'."

The study also suggests preventative steps, such as a mass media campaign, licensed venues taking responsibility for road injuries or deaths and better public transport around pubs, bars and clubs.