Meeting of the Parliament 18 November 2014
As already stated, a drink-driving limit has been in place since 1965. Since then, social attitudes towards those who drink drive have changed; they have changed dramatically since the 1960s, with most people taking a hard-line stance on the issues surrounding drink driving. I would go as far as to say that the people of Scotland have developed a strong social conscience towards the issue of drink driving and are clear that drink driving can have devastating effects.
Despite that, I am disappointed to note that an estimated 20 lives each year continue to be lost on Scotland’s roads as a result of drink driving, not to mention the serious injuries that are sustained by members of the public. That is why I am pleased that the Scottish Government has decided to lower the drink-driving limit. I was also encouraged by the results of the Scottish Government consultation, which showed that the vast majority of people who responded would support a lower drink-driving limit in Scotland. In fact, just short of 75 per cent of respondents said that they would support a lower drink-driving limit. I believe that that reinforces the idea that our nation has a social conscience on the issue.
The new drink-driving limit that is in place from 5 December will make Scotland’s roads safer as it allows the police, prosecutors and our courts to take more drivers off the road who pose a risk to public safety. It will also act as a deterrent—it will encourage people not to drink and drive at all, particularly as the new limit is coming into force in the lead-up to the festive period, when many may have been tempted to have a drink and then drive after an office party or a family gathering.
When I first started driving, I—like anyone else—would have a couple of pints. Then I met someone who was stopped one night whose couple of pints had put him over the limit. Then, I went down to one pint and I said, “Why should I?” But then I thought, “I don’t want to be caught. I don’t want to drink and drive.” Therefore, now when I take friends out, I drink orange juice and I still enjoy my night.
With that in mind, the Scottish Government is doing all that it can to ensure that the public is properly informed about the change in the drink-driving limit. The campaign was launched on the 17th of this month and includes TV and radio adverts across Scotland as well as a robust social media campaign.
The new drink-driving limit brings Scotland into line with most other European countries. As has already been stated, the Republic of Ireland is an example of good practice and of the benefits of the lower limit. A review of its policy that was published in December 2012 found that the number of arrests for drink driving between October 2011 and October 2012 had fallen compared with the 2010 statistics, which was the last calendar year in which the higher limit was in force. Drivers in the Republic of Ireland have adjusted their behaviour to take into account the lower limit. That evidence is encouraging and I hope to see the same reduction in Scotland.
I encourage all members to support the lower drink-driving limit as it will make our roads safer and save lives. Even with the lower limit, someone is still three times—three times—more likely to die in a crash than if they had taken no alcohol. The best advice that we can give—I am sure that many members have already said this—is for people to have no alcohol if they plan on driving. As has also been stated already, people need to remember that what they drink the night before is still in their system the next morning.
16:30