A LEADING road safety charity has suggested sentences for breaking drink-drive laws should be lowered when the legal alcohol threshold is reduced by the Scottish Government.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has also warned proposals to lower the Scottish drink-drive limit could erode public support for enforcement measures and divert police attention from tackling more serious offenders.

The Scottish Government is planning to shift the legal threshold from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The move, which could take effect as early as next year, would put some drivers over the limit after one glass of wine or pint of strong lager.

Although rejected by the UK Government last year, the lower limit has been generally supported by road safety campaigners and would bring Scotland into line with Germany, France and Spain.

However, Neil Greig, the IAM's director of policy, said it may be hard to justify strict punishments, including a mandatory 12-month ban on driving and possible seizure of a vehicle, in cases where there is no demonstrable effect on a motorist's performance.

He said: "Should a driver who is stopped after taking one glass of wine and who has not caused any problem on the road face a 12-month ban, a very large fine, loss of job, seven years of huge insurance premiums and even the possibility of forfeiture of their car?

"This is not an easy question to answer but the IAM believes it must be addressed by the legislators and the enforcement agencies.

"In many parts of Europe a lower limit has been introduced with a lower fine and shorter bans to address this very point."

He said authorities had no idea how many people drove in the 50mg-80mg category, what their involvement in crashes was or what resources would be required to enforce the lower limit.

Mr Greig added: "If the number of drivers who would be caught by the lower limit is high, this would have major implications for police resources and could divert attention away from the worst offenders who currently ignore the limit but who actually cause most of the worst crashes."

The Scottish Government had originally asked for powers over sentencing to be devolved to Holyrood, along with the power to set the drink-drive limit. However, while the latter was devolved in the recent Scotland Act, the UK Government retained sentencing powers.

Scottish ministers had also called for legislation allowing police to conduct breath tests at any time and anywhere to increase the perceived risk of motorists being caught, but this too was knocked back.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was disappointed further powers were not devolved.

However, he said: "We believe reducing the drink-driving limit will save lives. The majority of Scots recognise drink-driving is dangerous and deplorable in our society, but there are still too many people dying every year on our roads as a result of drivers being over the limit.

"All the evidence shows alcohol-related road deaths drop dramatically where the limit has been reduced. The current limit just leaves too much room for confusion, and sadly we are still seeing hundreds of drivers each year ignoring the warnings and putting lives at risk through drinking and driving. It is reckless and totally unacceptable.

"The consequences can be devastating for victims and their families. Our proposed changes will mean drink-drivers are left with no excuses."

The Automobile Association voiced

fears over resources being diverted to catch motorists over a lower limit. However, it questioned the claim that the public may not support tough sentences for a lesser crime.

A spokesman said: "The public has no time for drink-drivers and our surveys of motorists have found there is support for keeping the same level of punishment for a lower limit. What you don't have with drink-driving – quite unlike speeding – is the idea that you can do it by accident. Most people have no tolerance for it."

A spokeswoman for road safety charity Brake said: "We are fully supportive of the Scottish Government's decision to lower the limit."