Scotland may now lead UK on drink driving laws

Scotland is now likely to lead the UK on drink driving laws according to AlcoSense, a manufacturer of personal breathalysers. As publication of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee’s report on drink driving laws effectively shelves any reduction in the drink driving limit in the UK the Scotland Bill will give Holyrood the power to introduce one in Scotland.

The Scotland Bill presented to the UK Parliament this week will include powers for Holyrood to introduce its own drink drive limit. The Scottish Parliament has already voted in favour of reducing the limit to 50mg per 100ml of blood from the current 80mg/100ml. The UK Transport Select Committee rejected a similar reduction across the whole of the UK supporting long-term a more extensive reduction to 20mg but rejecting any change at this stage. The Committee said any reduction should only be introduced after an extensive Government education campaign about drink strengths and consultation with individual police forces to assess the cost-benefits of any change.

“With the current spending cuts it seems unlikely that the Police or the Government will have sufficient funds to undertake any serious analysis or embark on a high profile public campaign anytime soon” says Hunter Abbott, AlcoSense Managing Director.

“The Transport Select Committee recommendation and the UK Government’s stated opposition make it likely that Scotland will introduce a reduction in the limit before the UK as a whole. This will lead to different drink driving limits in Scotland and the rest of the UK and confusion for motorists who travel across the Border” added Mr Abbott. “It will then only be a question of time before the rest of the UK is forced to follow Scotland’s lead and come into line with the rest of Europe”.

Polls indicate public support for a reduction. A survey last week by AlcoSense found over half of respondents in the UK supported reducing the limit from the current 80mg/100ml. 52% favoured the limit being reduced compared to 45% who wanted to keep the current limit. In Scotland the figure was even higher with 59% favouring a reduction compared to 39% wanting it to stay the same.

Many health and road transport professionals believe a lower limit will save lives. Figures from the Department for Transport show that there are around 400 drink driving deaths a year. A recent study concluded that within a few years of being introduced a reduction in the limit could prevent up to 300 deaths and 700 serious injuries annually.

For more information, visit alcosense.co.uk.