IAN Mackay (Letters, December 26) mentions several truths regarding drinking and driving.
However ,it is wrong to conflate these with the decision of the SNP Government to reduce the drink drive limit from 80 to 50 mg per 100ml.
There is no evidence that in the past, drivers in the range 50 to 80 mg per 100ml have caused more deaths than those in the 0 to 50 mg range. How could they when anything less than 80mg according to a breath test was not recorded?
To compare Scotland's new limit as being in line with other European countries is again a wrong comparison. The UK road death rate is about half that of France and Germany where the 50mg limit is in force.
Deaths caused by car drivers depends more on driver attitudes than on whether they have 80 or 50mg of alcohol in their blood.
Anyone with experience of driving in Europe will be aware of the much more aggressive driving carried out by the locals. The exception is Sweden where the death rate is similar to that of the UK.
I expect that when the statistics become available in a few years' time we will find no difference in the deaths rates on our roads. What will be different, however, will be the sustainability of many country pubs and restaurants. Fewer people will go to these and those that do go will consume less alcohol. Both will result in lower profits.
If the SNP Government believe in acting according to the data then they will reverse this damaging legislation.
Colin Gunn,
327 Montford Avenue,
Rutherglen.
WILLIAM McCreath (Letters, December 26)) may be correct when he criticises drivers for driving too slow. However, it is important to note that one should drive according to the road conditions and not necessarily at the speed limit. I drive from Ayr to Glasgow every day and seeing drivers racing down the A77 at night in driving rain at 70mph is highly dangerous.
Stewart McMenemin,
162 NithsdaleRoad, Glasgow.
I AGREE with the views of William McCreath regarding driving on the road between Gourock and Largs, particularly with regards to the section from Inverkip to Largs. The battered railings on the shore side are testament to things going wrong.
Slow drivers can cause frustration but so many drivers seem to be in a rush to get somewhere they take chances, which make one hold one's breath, expecting to see an upturned car on the next bend.
Alison Masterson,
9 Kip Avenue, Inverkip.
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