Tayside Police’s chief traffic officer says he would back government plans to cut the drink-driving limit, but the best advice to drivers is still not to drink anything if you plan to drive.
Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman was reacting to the announcement that an official government review of drink and drug-driving laws is expected to recommend cutting the legal limit to the equivalent of a pint of beer or one glass of wine.
Transport secretary Lord Adonis is set to back an official review of the law which he expects to recommend reducing the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
The review, by Sir Peter North, is focusing on research at University College London into reducing casualties. It is claimed that the reduction to 50mg would save the economy £120m a year by reducing medical costs and lost working time.
North is considering recommending an even lower limit of 20mg for novice motorists and HGV drivers.
A new law on drug driving is also likely amid concern about the number of motorists driving under the influence of narcotics or prescription medicine.
The government believes the tougher law on alcohol would prevent up to 65 deaths a year and a further 230 serious injuries in car accidents linked to drink driving.
If implemented, it would be the biggest shake-up of drink-driving laws since the breathalyser was introduced in the 1960s.
Chief Inspector Bowman said, “ACPOS and the Scottish Government have already backed a move for a reduction in the drink-driving limit.
He warned though, “If there is a reduction in the limit we have to send a stronger message to drivers that it’s not about a pint, because it could be a pint of very strong lager which could take someone over that limit.
“That kind of reduction would bring it into line with most European states, but our position is what does that equate to for an individual.
“Personally I would say don’t drink and drive, then there’s no doubt.”
Penalties for breaching the drink drive rules are, however, likely to be watered down. At present anyone caught driving while over the limit faces a minimum ban of 12 months.
Most countries with lower limits fine drivers and give them penalty points for minor breaches. North is considering recommending shorter bans for breaches of between 50mg and 79mg.
However Chief Inspector Bowman said, “We would say the current penalties are appropriate.”