Plan to lower Scots drink drive limit endorsed

The Scottish Government has published proposals seeking views on lowering the drink driving limit in Scotland.

The consultation follows the recent transfer of the power to set the level of the drink drive limit from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament. It seeks views on reducing the existing blood/alcohol limit of 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml and consequential equivalent reductions in the breath and urine limit.

Speaking outside the Scottish Parliament as he launched the consultation alongside Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing, Road Policing lead for ACPOS, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

“This Government has made it clear that we want a lower drink driving limit as we believe it will help make Scotland’s roads safer. While drink driving is now rightly recognised by the vast majority of motorists as dangerous and reckless, too many drivers still ignore the warnings and put lives at risk by drinking and driving. The consequences can be devastating for victims, their families and our communities. The launch of this consultation today marks another important step in tackling the scourge of drink driving.

“We strongly believe that reducing the drink driving limit will save lives. Tragically, the latest Reported Road Casualty figures estimate that just over one in nine deaths on Scotland’s roads involve drivers who are over the limit. This equates to an average of 30 deaths on Scotland’s roads every year.

“That is 30 too many, and we are proposing action to help reduce this number. This consultation seeks views on reducing the drink driving limit to a level which would bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and which will help save lives on our roads.

“Estimates of how many lives can be saved with a lower limit do vary, but there is evidence that indicates between three and 17 lives each year could be saved on Scottish roads from a lower limit of 50mg/100ml.

“With the UK Government having failed to take action for many years to reduce the drink driving limit, it is only now, with recently secured Scotland Act powers, that the Scottish Government is able to set the drink driving limit in Scotland. This swift use of the newly devolved powers on drink driving shows we are ready to make use of these new powers to help make Scotland a safer place.”

In November 2012 in a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish MPs voted overwhelmingly to endorse the Government’s plan to cut the legal limit. A motion backing the Scottish government’s consultation on cutting the limit was passed in parliament by 100 votes to 12.

See more about this story at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Speeches/drinkdrivedebate
01112012