Scotland’s new limit cuts drink drivers by half

Scotland’s roads are now safer according to new figures that show the number of drink drivers has more than halved since the legal blood alcohol limit was reduced last year.

Scotland’s roads are now safer after figures show a reduction in the legal blood alcohol limit has reduced the number of drink drivers

Figures from Police Scotland show there has been a 55% decline in the number of people caught drink driving over a four week Christmas period.

Police Scotland tested a total of 690 drivers and found 19 to be over the legal limit, compared to 42 in the same period in 2013/14 – a reduction of approximately 55%.

Out of the 19, three were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol between 6am and 10am.

“I’m obviously delighted at this significant reduction in the number of people caught for drink driving,” Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Scottish National Party (SNP), told Highland News.

“One of the many arguments was always about getting the message out, which has now happened.

“Reducing the limit from 80mg to 50mg means it is now very clear to people – if you are going to drink don’t drive and if you are going to drive don’t drink.

“Having the limit at 80mg left a lot of room for people to think it was OK to have a couple of drinks, now it’s best not to have any.

“We now have safer roads because of this new limit.”

The new legislation, lowering the blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood came into effect on December 5 2014 following a unanimous vote by the Scottish parliament.

New Zealand also reduced its drink-driving limit by the same amount as Scotland to tackle the number of alcohol-related accidents on its roads.

Meanwhile, New York introduced a new law in August last year that could see drink driving offenders sentenced to up to seven years in prison.