Kenny MacAskill warns drivers over new drink limit

HUNDREDS more Scottish drivers are poised to lose their licences this festive period after the introduction of strict new drink drive limits.

Police chiefs say they expect to catch around 35 drivers a week more than usual across Scotland when the harsher regime begins on 5 December.

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Justice secretary Kenny Mac-Askill warned that drivers face a “Christmas like no other” and suggested some drivers should consider not getting behind the wheel the day after drinking.

MSPs yesterday backed new rules to bring the drink drive limit down from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

It means the average man can only expect to have just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and women half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine before getting behind the wheel.

Chief Superintendent Iain Murray of Police Scotland said: “Drink driving causes significant impact on families and our local communities, not just at

Christmas but throughout the year, and the proposed changes send a clear message that there is no safe alcohol limit for drivers.

“We know from our figures that we can anticipate an extra 35 drivers a week losing their licence over the festive period following the changes to the limit. Our advice to all drivers is don’t risk it.

“Even at the new levels you will still be three times more likely to die in a collision than without any alcohol at all.”

Last Christmas, 434 drivers were caught driving while under the influence of drink and over a hundred more received warnings. More than 3,317 people have been caught since April driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Mr MacAskill told MSPs yesterday that a mass public awareness campaign is to be launched.

There will also be the annual government Christmas anti-drink drive campaign.

“This gives us the opportunity to piggy back on to it and make it clear it’s not a Christmas like any other and there’s changes coming through,” Mr MacAskill said.

The drink driving limit in Scotland has not changed since the 1960s and the new limit will bring Scotland into line with the rest of mainland Europe.

The government has already consulted on the issue and won support for the change among most who responded.

About 20 deaths a year – one in ten road deaths in Scotland – involve drivers who are over the legal limit.

Chief Supt Murray added: “Sadly there are still too many drivers willing to risk their own lives and the lives of others. We welcome the proposed changes to the law which will help keep people safe and send a clear message to drivers about the risks.”