Scottish Government
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Calls to cut drink driving limit
The UK Government has been urged to reduce the drink driving limit to reduce accidents on Scotland's roads.
In a letter to the UK Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said that changing the law would have widespread public backing and would send a clear message that drinking and driving is a potentially lethal concoction.
In his letter Mr MacAskill said:
"I have written to you on a number of occasions in the past year outlining the Scottish Government's support for a reduction in the drink driving limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, and for the police to be given the power to carry out random roadside breath tests.
"The Scottish Government is still of the opinion that this should be done on a UK wide basis and that it would bring considerable benefits in terms of the numbers of injuries and deaths on our roads. This opinion is supported by substantial evidence in favour of a lower limit.
"The Scottish Parliament debated the question of a lower limit on December 18, 2008 and voted in clear favour of a reduction. I would therefore ask you once again, to commit now to bring forward a reduction in the limit. Failing such a commitment, we would ask for the powers to set the limit to be transferred to the Scottish Ministers through the mechanism provided in the Scotland Act 1998.
"I would like to make it clear that, as I emphasised during the Parliamentary debate, this is not about constitutional niceties. It is simply a matter of making our roads safer in the face of overwhelming support for and evidence in favour of a lower drink drive limit.
"Over the festive period in Scotland, 654 drivers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We are convinced that a lower drink drive limit at a less ambiguous level would help to clarify the message that drinking and driving is unacceptable and in the longer term reduce the number of accidents on our roads."
Kathleen Braidwood, road safety officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland, said:
"RoSPA has campaigned for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - one of the highest limits in Europe - to 50mg for a number of years. This move would save around 65 lives and 230 serious injuries on the roads across Britain each year. Between 50mg and 80mg you are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be involved in an accident and six times more likely to be in a fatal crash than with no alcohol in your system.
"Police enforcement also needs to be visible to act as a deterrent as well as a means of catching offenders who have been irresponsible enough to drink and drive.
"In this day and age, drink driving is socially unacceptable and there is no excuse. There is good alcohol awareness information available and the road safety message is quite clear - do not drink any alcohol before you drive because even small amounts can impair your perception of hazards and danger and increase your chances of being in a crash."
Chief Constable Kevin Smith, chair of the road policing business area of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said:
"We believe that the case for reducing the drink drive limit is becoming ever stronger. Evidence shows that 65 lives a year could be saved by reducing the limit to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
"It is not just a case of falling into line with other European countries that in the past decade have reduced their limits but it is about challenging current attitudes and reducing further road crash injuries.
"There is already widespread support for a reduction in the limit not only from members of the public but also the medical profession, road safety experts and ourselves in the police service."
The Scottish Parliament debated the question of a lower limit in December 2008 and voted in clear favour of a reduction.
Related Information
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1218-02.htm
