New drink-drive law powers backed

Saturday 5 January 2013

THREE-QUARTERS of people want the Scottish Government to be given new powers to crack down on drink-driving.

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Just 8% are opposed and a further 13% neither support nor oppose further powers being given, while 4% do not know, a YouGov poll found.

The research was disclosed just days after the close of the latest drink-driving campaign in which police across Scotland said they found 462 drivers under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. The total is down from the 496 motorists caught last year but Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill hit out at those who "still hold outdated attitudes and think it's okay to drink and drive".

The Scottish Government has set out plans to reduce the existing limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, after new powers were devolved to Holyrood.The UK Government has so far "ignored" pleas from Holyrood ministers to hand them the powers to introduce random breath testing, Mr MacAskill said. The poll sends a "clear message to the UK Government that Scotland should be given the additional powers we need".l Drug-drivers face more rigorous tests after a saliva test kit for detecting cannabis was approved for use in police stations across the UK.

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New drink-drive law powers backed

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