MSP welcomes new drink-driving limits

From December 5th, the permitted blood alcohol limit will be more strict, dropping from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood. This brings the UK into line with most of Europe.

Arran’s MSP Kenneth Gibson said: ‘This is about changing people’s behaviour. All the evidence from countries such as Ireland show that a lower limit reduces the number of convictions, as more people get the message that you should never drink and drive.’ He added that the current legal limit of alcohol in the blood is six times more likely to result in a fatal accident than it will be at the new lower level. While agreeing that there has been a huge decline in drink-related road deaths since drinking and driving have become socially unacceptable, he points out that ‘around one in 10 deaths on our roads still involve drivers over the legal limit,’ and adds, ‘This new order will reduce fatalities and injuries even further.’