Push to 'set example' in new drink-drive limit

Safety experts have urged Scotland to use its new powers to "set an example" by cutting the drink-driving limit.

The Scotland Bill, unveiled on Tuesday by the UK Government, sets out to transfer new powers to Holyrood, including plans to devolve control over the legal alcohol limit for motorists.

The move has been welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Scotland.

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RoSPA road safety officer Kathleen Braidwood said: "Although we believe the best option is for a lower limit to be applied across the UK, we strongly support the transfer of powers to Scotland so it can lower its drink-drive limit to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

"We hope this would set an example that the rest of the UK might follow."

Scottish Government ministers have repeatedly called on Westminster to transfer control over drink-driving limits, with the SNP administration having already said it backs reducing the limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg of alcohol.

Ms Braidwood added: "One in nine road deaths in Scotland involves someone who is over the current drink-drive limit.

"For many years, RoSPA has called for the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to be lowered to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, a move which should also be supported by wider powers for the police to conduct random breath tests."