New move to cut drink-drive limit

Thursday 6 September 2012

A public consultation on Scottish Government plans to lower the drink-drive limit is launched today.

Proposals to lower the limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg were announced by the Justice Secretary earlier this year.

Powers to set drink-driving limits are among those transferred from Westminster to Holyrood under the Scotland Act (2010-12).

Lowering the limit to 50mg would bring Scotland in line with other European countries such as Germany, France and Spain.The move was cautiously welcomed by road safety campaigners, as a zero-tolerance approach is their ultimate aim.Sarah Fatica, general manager at road safety charity Brake, said: "Whilst 50mg is a step in the right direction, what we really need to see is a strong message from our governments in Scotland and Westminster to say that not a drop (of alcohol) is acceptable if you are behind the wheel."Far too many lives are lost on UK roads annually because of drink drivers. If we could have a zero-tolerance approach to drink driving, lives would obviously be saved."Mr MacAskill is being joined outside Holyrood by Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing, secretary of road policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, for the consultation launch.Commenting at the time that he announced the proposals, Mr MacAskill said: "The Scottish Government has long called for a reduction in the drink-driving limit to 50mg. We strongly believe that reducing the drink-driving limit will save lives, and evidence from across Europe shows that alcohol-related road deaths drop dramatically where the limit has been reduced."Having secured the powers to take this forward through the Scotland Bill, the Scottish Government, as a priority, will bring forward proposals later this year, with a view to the change taking effect as soon as possible."

Contextual targeting label:

Block list

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

New move to cut drink-drive limit

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED