The Scottish Parliament will today vote on an order which will bring the reduced limit into effect on December 5.
This would lower the blood alcohol limit from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.
Speaking yesterday Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said, “With the approval of Parliament, the new drink drive limit will come into force on December 5, making our roads safer and saving lives.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure everyone is informed about the new lower level.
“A persistent minority of people are still getting behind the wheel after drinking – that is unacceptable, it is putting lives at risk and it must stop. Our advice is simple, the best approach is to have no alcohol at all. Alcohol at any level impairs driving.
“This new law will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and hopefully reduce drink drive arrests and prosecutions, as we have already seen in the Republic of Ireland, where drivers adjusted their behaviour to take account of the lower limit.”
Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, Head of Roads Policing for Police Scotland said, “An average of 20 die on Scotland’s roads each year and last year a further 90 were seriously injured and 340 slightly injured as a result of drink driving related collisions.
“The new lower limit will reduce those numbers and the evidence from across Europe where the lower limit applies suggests we will see reductions in drink driving and blood alcohol counts.
“However even at the new limit you are three times more likely to die in a crash than if you had taken no alcohol. It is clear, when it comes to drinking and driving, that the simple ‘the best advice is none’ message is the right one.
“On the lead up to 5 December police patrols will positively engage with as many road users as possible to provide real-time education to those who may be putting themselves and others at risk, influence behaviour in the future and prevent collisions on Scotland’s roads.”
Comments are closed.