Scottish Government
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Lower drink drive limit in Scotland
Events to increase awareness on both sides of the border before December 5.
Events are taking place north and south of the border to further increase awareness of the new drink drive limit in Scotland.
It’s part of a high-profile public information campaign which has been running from 17 November to ensure drivers are ready for the reduced alcohol limit coming into effect at 00:01 on Friday 5 December.
Mobile electronic road signs informing drivers of the new lower limit will be in key locations on border roads in Scotland, service stations in border areas are displaying information and a multi-media TV, video-on-demand and radio adverting campaign is in place.
The Scottish Parliament unanimously voted in favour of a law to lower the blood alcohol limit from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood on November 18.
Just last week the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) published research showing that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of people would like the Scottish drink-drive limit introduced across England and Wales.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said:
“Scotland will have a new lower drink drive limit from Friday, making our roads safer and saving lives.
“A public information campaign has been running to make sure drivers are informed. “Alcohol at any level will impair your ability to drive - even at the new limit you are three times more likely to die in a crash than with no alcohol in your system.
“This will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe. The evidence from the Republic of Ireland which has brought in the same lower limit suggests we will see convictions go down, reductions in drink driving and lower blood alcohol counts.
“We are leading the way across the UK - the new limit has backing from experts, road safety campaigners and the majority of the public north and south of the border.
“When it comes to drinking and driving our advice is simple, it’s just not worth it. Don’t put lives at risk, the best approach is to have no alcohol at all.”
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: "Our message is clear - don't risk it and don't drink and drive.
"Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe. When the current drink drive limit is lowered on Friday, December 5 this will be a significant step towards improving safety on Scotland's roads and we fully support the Scottish Government's decision to lower it.
"Police Scotland will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure drivers understand the risk they pose to themselves and others if they drink, or take drugs, and drive."
Michael McDonnell, Director of Road Safety Scotland, said:
“It’s almost 50 years since the current limit was introduced and that we still lose an average of 20 lives a year in Scotland is a disgrace. Evidence from across the world demonstrates that the best results in tackling drink-driving are achieved by lowering the limit, or increasing enforcement, or both.
“We know, too, that a combination of high-profile enforcement, coupled with a heavyweight media campaign is the most efficient use of resources, and we are working closely with Police Scotland and other partners to ensure that people know about the change to the limit and have no excuse.
“It’s not about catching more drink-drivers, but about preventing people from doing it in the first place. Ultimately, most of us have too much to lose, so it’s just not worth the risk.”
Notes To Editors
Institute of Advanced Motorists Research available here:
The Drink Drive Legislation Change public information campaign runs from 17 November to 2 January. This precedes the traditional festive drink drive social marketing campaign which runs into the new year. It includes:
- TV, video-on-demand and radio adverts across Scotland, including ITV Borders which covers areas south of the border. The campaign message is ‘the best advice is none’ when it comes to drinking and driving. Adverts available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPfpvfAWX68&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd3J8rekAfw&feature=youtu.be
- Digital campaign backed by www.dontriskit.info website
- Social media campaign backed through https://twitter.com/RoadSafetyScot andhttps://www.facebook.com/#!/roadsafetyscotland?fref=ts
- Scotland-wide awareness raising events in high footfall public venues such as supermarkets
- Working with key transport hubs such as Edinburgh & Prestwick airports and car hire companies (Enterprise)
- Digital screens are in place at Waverley and Central train stations which see a footfall of around 990,000 commuters and visitors per week
- Awareness raising through Visit Scotland, tourist organisations and driving tourism agencies
- Highlighting the new lower limit via electronic road signs across Scotland, particularly on key border roads between England and Scotland
- Partner work with service stations, including all Tesco and all Shell-owned garages, this includes key border areas in Dumfries, Abington, Jedburgh and Berwick- upon- Tweed
- Issuing information through alcohol retailers including Diageo and Heineken
In 2010, the last full year in which the higher drink drive limit of 80mg/100ml was in effect in the Republic of Ireland, there were 12,602 convictions for drink driving. The lower limit came into effect on 28 October 2011. In 2011, there were 10,575 convictions and from October 2011 to 2012, drink drive convictions reduced again to 9,771.
The Scottish Government announced in March 2013 the intention to reduce the limit following consultation, which found almost three quarters of respondents supported the reduction in the drink drive limit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/03/drinkdriving21032013)
Road casualty statistics are based on averages for 2008 to 2012 and were published in Report Road Casualties Scotland 2013 on 22nd October 2014. http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/statistics/reported-road-casualties-scotland-all-editions
Research on increased relative risk from NICE report, Review of effectiveness of laws limiting blood alcohol concentration levels to reduce alcohol-related road injuries and deaths, 2010. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100921035225/http:/www.nice.org.uk/media/3FE/1A/BloodA
