SNP calls for drink-driving limit to be cut

Published on Wednesday 12 March 2008 09:29

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill today revealed he has asked Westminster to cut the drink-driving limit and introduce random breath testing.

He said he had written to UK Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly urging her to reduce the permitted alcohol level from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.

And he also called on her to give the police powers to stop and breathalyse motorists at random in a new crackdown on drink- driving.

Decisions on the drink-driving limits and testing regime are reserved to the UK parliament.

But Mr MacAskill said cutting the current limit – which was introduced in 1967 – would help save lives in Scotland.

New research published today showed a key reason given for drink-driving was that it was legal to do so, up to a certain limit.

The study also showed most people thought a personal safe limit was two drinks, regardless of what the drink was, the strength or the size of glass.

Mr MacAskill was today visiting Gayfield Square police station to find out more about police efforts to catch drunk drivers.

He said: "Scotland's roads have changed a great deal since the drink-driving limit was set. We have faster cars, more people driving and more motorways. We also know much more about the effect even a small amount of alcohol can have on ability to drive."

But he said the fact that one-in-nine road deaths in Scotland was alcohol-related showed more action was needed.

"The current limit simply leaves too much room for confusion and sends out the wrong message. That's why we need to have a lower limit, one that sends out a clear message that driving after you've had a drink isn't acceptable – it's dangerous," he said.

"So I have written to Ruth Kelly and asked her to reduce the limit and bring in random testing.

"The police do a great job. However, random breath testing would help them catch more people, increase the risk of getting caught and provide a greater deterrent."

His call was backed by Dr Sally Winning of the British Medical Association, who said there was evidence around 65 lives could be saved in the UK by lowering the limit from 80mg to 50mg.

She said: "In Scotland, there is wide-ranging support for legislation to reduce the drink-drive limit, but this is a matter for Westminster and they have been stalling for more than a decade."