Responding to the decision to lower the drink drive limit in Scotland, the ALMR has warned that a change in the limit alone is unlikely to have a considerable impact on alcohol-related road accidents.
A new law has come into force in Scotland reducing the legal alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.
ALMR Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls said: “The current limit works and is one of a package of measures designed to combat drink driving which includes enforcement and sanctions. Changing the limit alone is unlikely to deliver a significant change in the number of deaths on the road and, crucially, will do nothing to tackle problem drivers who drink to the risk of getting caught, not the limit. The vast majority, about 83%, of those killed or seriously injured our roads are well above the legal limit and almost one in five is twice the limit.
“Evidence shows that hard-hitting public education and strong enforcement delivers the greatest impact on drink driving accidents. The ALMR is fully supportive of these measures and we believe these have a greater impact without any unintended consequences.
“The licensed trade has worked hard to contribute to establishing a strong social consensus that drink driving is socially unacceptable and spends no small amount of time and effort promoting initiatives such as the Coca Cola Designated Driver scheme. What we do not want to see is any undermining of the work that has already been done to establish drink driving limits in the consciousness of customers.
“On its own, this change in legislation is unlikely to deter those individuals who continue to flout the law.”
Ends
Leave a Reply