Meeting of the Parliament 18 November 2014
Reducing the drink-drive limit will make Scotland’s roads safer. We all know that alcohol affects a driver’s judgment and reaction times, and that the risk of having a road accident increases as more alcohol is consumed. However, we also know that Scotland and the United Kingdom have one of the highest drink-drive limits in Europe.
Sir Peter North, in his report for the UK Government in 2010, recommended a reduction in the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml, which would bring us into line with the vast majority of our European neighbours. It is the rejection of that recommendation by the current UK Government, coupled with the devolution of the power to set a specific limit for Scotland, that has led to this debate.
I make it clear at the outset that I support the reduction in the drink-drive limit, and that I discourage all forms of drink driving in the strongest possible terms. However, I believe that Labour’s amendment enhances the Government’s motion.
In his report, Sir Peter North explained—as Richard Lyle stated—that drivers with a blood alcohol concentration between 20mg and 50mg per 100ml have a greater risk of dying—at least three times the risk—in a road traffic accident than drivers who have no alcohol in their blood at all.
The risk of having a fatal accident increases by at least six times with a blood alcohol concentration between 50mg and 80mg per 100 ml, and then to 11 times between 80mg and 100mg per 100 ml. In other words, alcohol increases the risk of a fatal accident exponentially, and there is a significant increase in risk above a blood alcohol concentration of 50mg per 100ml.
The report notes that there is a case for reducing the limit to 20mg per 100ml, which Sir Peter North argues would be consistent with a clear “Do not drink and drive” policy. However, he goes on to explain that only a minority of countries have such a limit, and that any policy that is viewed as too restrictive or inflexible could jeopardise the good will and public support that exist for strengthening drink-drive legislation.
The BMA has reminded us that the lowest drink-drive limits are the toughest to enforce. There are countries that have a drink-drive limit of zero, and yet there are circumstances in which people with a medical condition such as diabetes, or those who use a certain type of mouthwash, would register alcohol in their blood.
The recommendation that we should reduce the limit on blood alcohol concentration to 50mg per 100ml has proven to be popular not only in the chamber but beyond with the public, the police and road safety campaigners. It is a practical proposal, it is enforceable and it will save lives.
There is broad agreement that the coming change must be communicated effectively to the public before it comes into force on 5 December. Thirty-two responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation emphasised the need to educate drivers about changes to the drink-drive limit, and 13 identified the need to educate people about the lingering morning-after effects of alcohol.
It takes longer than people often think for alcohol to pass through their body. People who would never countenance drink driving might not realise how much alcohol remains in their system the morning after a night out. They could find that their reaction times are slow, and if they were stopped by the police they might find that they have broken the law.
We need to do more than educate drivers to know their limits and know their units. We need to change behaviour and prevent people from getting behind the wheel of a car in the morning when there could still be enough alcohol present in their system to take them over the limit.
I acknowledge the new public awareness campaign that was launched this week, but I appeal to the Government for assurances that the attempts to educate motorists will be robust and proactive and will continue beyond the festive season.
With a new drink-driving limit I hope that we can prevent needless accidents, injuries and deaths on Scotland’s roads. We can make people think more about how much they drink before they drive, and send out a clear message that it is safest not to drink at all before getting behind the wheel. With education and enforcement, we can make Scotland’s roads safe, and I believe that we must.
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