Public Servant Lifestyle

Could a lower limit and random breath tests actually prevent drink driving? The Scottish Justice Secretary and new research findings think they might...

Scottish Justice Secretary MacAskill has written to the UK Transport Secretary - Ruth Kelly - asking her to reduce the drink driving limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood and introduce random breath testing to further crack down on drink driving.

The call from Mr MacAskill comes as new research: Drinking and Driving 2007: Prevalence, Decision Making and Attitudes showed a key reason given for drink driving was that it was legal to do so, up to a certain limit. It also showed most people thought a personal safe limit was two drinks, regardless of drink, the strength or the size of glass - which could be enough to take you over the limit.

Faster Cars

Mr MacAskill said: "Scotland's roads have changed a great deal since the drink driving limit was set - we have faster cars, more people driving and more motorways. We also know much more about the affect even a small amount of alcohol can have on ability to drive.

"Drink driving remains a constant thorn in the side of efforts to make our roads and communities safer. The fact that 1 in 9 road deaths in Scotland were alcohol-related shows we need to do more. Public attitudes are changing - the majority of people think drink driving is unacceptable.

"The current limit simply leaves too much room for confusion and sends out the wrong message. People think they can have a couple of pints, but two large glasses of wine or pints of strong lager could be more than enough to take you over the limit. That's why we need to have a lower limit, one that sends out a clear message that driving after you've had a drink isn't acceptable - it's dangerous. This change would also bring us into line with the rest of Europe.

"So I have written to Ruth Kelly and asked her to reduce the limit and bring in random breath testing. The police do a great job, however random breath testing would help them catch more people, increase the risk of getting caught and providing a greater deterrent to people who are considering drink driving. If the UK Government is willing to grasp the nettle then they can help safe lives on Scottish roads - and will have our thanks."

Hazard

On behalf of the British Medical Association (BMA), Dr. Sally Winning said: "Drink driving continues to be a hazard on Scotland's roads. Lives are lost and people are injured as a result of drink driving related accidents. Our message is clear. Lives could be saved simply by reducing the drink driving limit. There is evidence that blood alcohol concentration over 50mg/100ml impairs driving and it is estimated that around 65 lives could be saved in the UK by lowering the limit from 80mg to 50mg.

"In Scotland there is wide-ranging support for legislation to reduce the drink drive limit, but this is a matter reserved to Westminster and they have been stalling on this issue for more than a decade. That is why the BMA is welcomes Mr MacAskill's decision to write to the Transport Secretary in England."

Decisions on the drink driving limits and testing regime are currently reserved to the UK Parliament. The current limit was introduced back in 1967.

Click here to read the full research document: Drinking and Driving 2007: Prevalence, Decision Making and Attitudes, which can be accessed as a series of web pages or downloaded as a .PDF.

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