Road accident numbers rise 1% after stricter drink-driving limit
STRICT new Scottish drink driving laws have not helped cut the number of road traffic accidents, a new Glasgow University study shows.
Researchers found road traffic accidents (RTAs) actually increased by one per cent since the law change in December 2014.
But Police Scotland hit back, with a top cop claiming the study is “premature” in its findings.
The law was changed in Scotland in 2014 to make the drink-drive limit the strictest in the UK.
Academics said the policy may not have worked because police failed to follow up with strong enforcement or media campaigns.
They factored in other possible explanations by comparing the statistics with England and Wales, where the limit is the same as before 2014 in Scotland.
Jim Lewsey, Professor of Medical Statistics at Glasgow University, said: “Our findings are surprising given what we know from previous international evidence, which generally supports a reduction of RTAs following the same lowering of a blood alcohol concentration limit.
“However, the results of our high quality study are unequivocal – they indicate that the reduction in Scotland’s drink-drive limit in December 2014 simply did not have the intended effect of reducing RTAs.”
Under the revised law, drivers in Scotland must have 22 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath, compared with 35 micrograms in England, Michelle Burns, 43, said: “I’ve been driving for a long time, so I would have had a cheeky white wine spritzer and then driven home, but I don’t do that anymore. You don’t want to lose your licence.”
John Horbey, 22, said: “I am surprised. I thought that it would be way Wales and Northern Ireland.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a major reason for road traffic accidents, and evidence suggests the risk of individual accidents increases with blood alcohol content.
The study was undertaken in collaboration with partners at NHS Health Scotland, Stirling University and East Anglia University, and published in medical journal The Lancet.
Researchers also found that the lower alcohol limit had no effect on alcohol sales in supermarkets, but saw a one per cent reduction in sales in bars and restaurants.
Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, Head of Road Policing for Police Scotland, less road accidents. Either I would have a drink and someone else would drive, or they would drink and I would drive. One at a time, but not both of us.”
Catrina McKenzie, 51, said: “I think it’s the older generation.
My uncles and aunts, that sort of generation. There’s a lot of them that drink and drive. Young people wouldn’t even consider it.”
Fiona Lemont, 62, said: “I would maybe have half a glass before the ban came in but now if I’m driving I don’t drink at all, until I’m back home.”
Marie Mullen, 43, said: “Physically, I said: “Police Scotland willingly participated in this comprehensive study and continues to support parallel research led by Stirling University, looking at the reasons for the findings, and recommendations for policy and practice.
“Meantime, it would be premature to judge what is behind these findings or what should happen next.
“What is clear from the analyses of road traffic collisions in Scotland is the life-taking impact of the so-called ‘fatal four’ causation factors: Inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distracted by using a mobile device, and driving whilst under the influence of drink/ drugs.” probably can’t take as much as other people, so I’ve always been terrified of having even one and driving. I’ve always had that mindset.”
Lethan Cameron, 54, said: “We just don’t drink and drive at all, so our limit is zero. So it didn’t change our behaviour at all. I think everybody is pretty much the same.”