Reducing the Drink Driving Limit in Scotland Analysis of Consultation Responses

2 Reducing the Drink Driving Limit

2.1 The consultation paper set out the consequences of drink driving to the people of Scotland and included recent statistics on offences, injuries (including associated costs) and deaths involving drink driving. It outlined the drink drive limits in operation across Europe, set out the current legislation, offences and penalties as well as associated police powers.

2.2 The consultation also presented some of the evidence and findings from the 2010 North Review³ recommendations and stated: 'The Scottish Government strongly agrees with the opinion of the North Report that a reduction in the drink drive limit will save lives'.

Whether the drink drive limit should be reduced

2.3 Alcohol concentrations can be measured using breath, urine or blood samples and the Scottish Government proposes that there should be a lower drink drive limit for blood with equivalent reductions in the breath and urine limits.

The first question in the consultation asked respondents: 'Do you agree that the drink drive limits should be reduced in Scotland?'

Table 2.1: Whether the drink drive limits should be reduced in Scotland

2.4 As can be seen in table 2.1, there was majority support for this proposal; with 102 agreeing and 33 disagreeing. All but one of those who disagreed were individuals.

2.5 While most respondents provided either a yes or no answer, eight organisations also opted to provide some additional comment on this question. As these raise themes similar to those made by respondents in later questions, these comments have been analysed alongside responses to Q5.

The Scottish Government proposal to reduce the drink driving limits

2.6 The consultation document referenced evidence from the North Report which indicated that drivers are six times more likely to die with a blood alcohol concentration between 50 and 80 mgs than with zero blood alcohol.

2.7 It also referenced evidence from the British Medical Association⁴ that the relative risk of being involved in a road traffic accident for drivers with a reading of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood was 10 times higher than for drivers with a zero blood alcohol reading. The relative accident risk for drivers with a reading of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml blood was twice the level than for drivers with a zero blood alcohol reading. The Scottish Government is proposing:

• A reduction in the blood limit from 80mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of blood to 50 mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of blood.
• An (equivalent) reduction in the breath limit from 35 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath to 22 mcg of alcohol in every 100 ml of breath.
• An (equivalent) reduction in the urine limit from 107 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine to 67 mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of urine.

Question 1A: Do you agree with the Scottish Government proposal to reduce the drink driving limits?⁵

2.8 As table 2.2 shows, there was widespread agreement with this proposal, with 89 respondents saying 'yes' and 11 disagreeing. Most disagreement came from individuals, although three organisations (one local authority and two from the alcohol / drug group) disagreed with this proposal.

Table 2.2: Whether agree with the Scottish Government proposal to reduce the drink driving limits (Base: Those who answered Yes at Q1)