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| Scotland to reduce drink-drive limit | Scotland to reduce drink-drive limit |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government has announced plans to reduce the country's drink-drive limit in time for Christmas. | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has taken steps which, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, would mean a new limit being introduced on 5 December. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has taken steps which, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, would mean a new limit being introduced on 5 December. |
| Under the plans, Scotland's blood alcohol limit would be cut from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood. | Under the plans, Scotland's blood alcohol limit would be cut from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood. |
| It would mean the legal limit in Scotland would be lower than in England - where the limit is 80mg in blood. | |
| The draft legislation to make the change has been laid before parliament, and will bring Scotland's legal alcohol limits in line with much of Europe. | The draft legislation to make the change has been laid before parliament, and will bring Scotland's legal alcohol limits in line with much of Europe. |
| A public awareness campaign will warn drivers not to drink at all. | A public awareness campaign will warn drivers not to drink at all. |
| Save lives | Save lives |
| The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) welcomed the move, and called for the rest of the UK to follow suit. | The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) welcomed the move, and called for the rest of the UK to follow suit. |
| Sandy Allan, RoSPA's Road Safety Manager in Scotland, said he believed the move would save lives and prevent injuries on Scotland's roads. | Sandy Allan, RoSPA's Road Safety Manager in Scotland, said he believed the move would save lives and prevent injuries on Scotland's roads. |
| He added: "There is a considerable body of research which shows that reducing drink drive limits is effective in reducing drink-drive deaths and injuries. We would like to see the rest of the UK follow Scotland's example." | He added: "There is a considerable body of research which shows that reducing drink drive limits is effective in reducing drink-drive deaths and injuries. We would like to see the rest of the UK follow Scotland's example." |
| Drink-drive limit | |
| The drink-drive limit in the UK is currently 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. | |
| However - like Scotland - the limit in Northern Ireland could be reduced from 80mg in blood to 50mg as part of proposals included in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill. | |
| The bill is currently being considered by the Northern Ireland Assembly and could become law by early next year. | |
| 'Clear message' | |
| The latest estimates are that approximately one in 10 deaths on Scottish roads involve drivers who are over the legal limit. | |
| Research has suggested that just one alcoholic drink before driving can make you three times as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. | Research has suggested that just one alcoholic drink before driving can make you three times as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. |
| The Scottish government previously announced its intention to reduce the limit following a consultation which found almost three quarters of those who responded backed the move. | The Scottish government previously announced its intention to reduce the limit following a consultation which found almost three quarters of those who responded backed the move. |
| Mr MacAskill said drinking and driving shattered families and communities, and that it was time to take action to reduce the risk on the country's roads. | Mr MacAskill said drinking and driving shattered families and communities, and that it was time to take action to reduce the risk on the country's roads. |
| He said: "I have today introduced legislation to lower the drink drive limit in Scotland so that, subject to parliamentary approval, new laws will be in place in time for the beginning of the festive period. | He said: "I have today introduced legislation to lower the drink drive limit in Scotland so that, subject to parliamentary approval, new laws will be in place in time for the beginning of the festive period. |
| "This new limit will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and send a clear message to drivers who continue to ignore the warnings that there is never an excuse to drink and drive. | "This new limit will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and send a clear message to drivers who continue to ignore the warnings that there is never an excuse to drink and drive. |
| "Getting behind the wheel after drinking can have fatal consequences. The advice is simple - if you have had any alcoholic drink whatsoever, don't drive. | "Getting behind the wheel after drinking can have fatal consequences. The advice is simple - if you have had any alcoholic drink whatsoever, don't drive. |
| "No one should be drinking and driving and the new lower limit only reinforces what should already be the case with drivers taking full responsibility and not putting lives at risk." | "No one should be drinking and driving and the new lower limit only reinforces what should already be the case with drivers taking full responsibility and not putting lives at risk." |