English drivers must be warned on new drink limit
ENGLISH DRIVERS crossing the border into Scotland must be made aware of looming changes to the drink drive laws over the festive period, a report by MSPs has warned.
Worried councillors in the English border regions are also calling for action, amid concerns that motorists in areas such as Cumbria are not aware of the change.
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Hide AdPolice have already warned that they expect hundreds of Scots to lose their licences as result of the new regime which comes into effect in early December.
New limits will mean one pint could put drivers over the limit.
Holyrood’s justice committee has warned in a report that drivers living outside Scotland must be aware of the changes. As well as English motorists, this should include foreign visitors planning to drive in Scotland after the new law comes into force.
The MSPs are now calling for “signposting” at the Border to inform people arriving in Scotland of the change, as well as advertising campaigns in airports and ferry terminals. The report backs the move to a legal limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – down from the current limit of 80mg.
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Justice committee convener Christie Grahame said: “We welcome a zero-tolerance approach to drink driving. But for the change in the law to be effective, we need to make sure that the public are fully informed that the change is coming soon, and of the implications of this change.”
Ms Grahame added: “In particular, with the festive season approaching and people on either side of the Border visiting friends and families on the other side, we welcome the thought given to such cross-border issues by the Scottish Government when preparing its publicity campaign.”
Justice secretary Kenny Mac-Askill said a “comprehensive information and education programme” will be undertaken to ensure that drivers are in no doubt about the looming changes.
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Hide AdCumbria councillor Val Tarbitt, who represents the seat of Longtown which borders Scotland, said she had been unaware of the change and now plans to raise the issue with the council leadership.
“There is a lot of traffic from this side, from Cumbria, into Gretna and Dumfries and Galloway, Newcastleton – all those areas. People move back and forwards all the time,” she said.
“I think it would be very important that we make people aware of that.”
The Conservative councillor backed the reduction in Scotland and said she supported a “no drink, no driving” limit.
“I just wish somebody would have the guts at Westminster or anywhere else to say you don’t drive and have a drink,” Ms Tarbitt added.
The Scottish Government has already said it plans to undertake advertising in areas such as that covered by ITV Border which should raise awareness for people living in the region who might travel into Scotland each working day.
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