'Most' back drink-drive limit cut

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Four out of five people back a cut in the drink-drive limit, according to a Scottish government-commissioned poll.

Of the 1,008 people surveyed, 79% said they wanted to see the limit cut from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill renewed SNP calls for the UK government to transfer power in this area to Scotland to allow him to take action.

But Scottish Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said UK ministers were already reviewing drink-drive limits.

The recent annual festive crackdown by police saw 490 people arrested for drinking and driving in Scotland.

Of these, 47 offenders were found to be repeat drink-drivers, four of whom had their cars forfeited, and a further 24 were seized pending consideration by the court.

'Wake up'

But the number of drivers caught during this year's campaign was down significantly on last year's figure of 654 and down further on the 2007 figure of 839.

Mr MacAskill said: "Sadly we've already seen hundreds of drivers ignore the risks and put lives in danger in the last few weeks.

"That is absolutely deplorable in this day and age, and these people are finding out the hard way that their actions will be met with the full force of the law."

He called on the UK government to "wake up and listen."

He added: "Other European countries have already taken action to reduce their drink-drive limits and Scotland must do the same."

'Piecemeal approach'

Ch Supt Brian Anderson, head for drink-driving issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos), said research indicated that 65 lives a year could be saved by reducing the limit to 50mg, with 230 serious injuries also potentially avoided.

He said: "We have all agreed to tackle the Scottish government's challenging casualty reduction targets for the next 10 years and a reduction in the drink-drive limit would certainly assist us to achieve those targets."

However, Labour MSP Richard Baker said the Calman Commission, the body set up to review Scottish devolution, had already made recommendations on the issue.

He said: "The UK government have drink drive limits under review and the Calman Commission made it clear that this area of law would be devolved as part of the Calman package of reforms.

"This is the right way forward rather than the piecemeal approach of Kenny MacAskill."