Skip advert
Advertisement

Stricter drink-drive limits don't reduce accidents

Scotland’s road traffic accident rate has actually increased since tougher drink-drive laws were introduced in 2014

Drink Drive

Tougher drink-drive laws don’t reduce accidents, according to a new study, with accidents in Scotland actually increasing since stricter limits were introduced.

Researchers from Glasgow University found the road traffic accident (RTA) rate in Scotland has also increased to higher levels than in England and Wales since the country introduced stricter drink-drive laws in 2014.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Average of 179 drunk drivers caught every day in December last year

Writing in The Lancet – a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal – the academics claimed early public awareness campaigns have not been maintained.

The researchers measured the rates of all RTAS – both those involving alcohol and not – said the Scottish Government’s policy of lowering the legal drink-drive limit from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22 “did not have the intended effect of reducing RTAs”.

They said: “This reduction in the BAC limit for drivers decreased alcohol consumption from on-trade alcohol sales (e.g. in bars and restaurants) by less than one per cent but did not affect alcohol consumption from off-trade sales (e.g. from supermarkets and convenience stores), which account for approximately three-quarters of total sales.”

The study was led by Professor Jim Lewsey from Glasgow University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing, who said in the report: “Our negative findings for total, serious or fatal, and single-vehicle night-time RTAs were unexpected given previous evidence that generally supports a reduction of RTAs after reducing the BAC limit for drivers.”

He added: “The most plausible explanation of our finding of no effect of the reduced BAC limit for drivers on RTA outcome is that this limit was insufficiently enforced or publicised or both.”

Hereford branded worst UK city for drink and drug driving

Lewsey argued that tough drink-driving legislation could only be enforced with “frequent and systematic random breath testing, supported by public education, publicity, and awareness campaigns”.

The report also suggested that the majority of drink-driving RTAs “might be caused by people who continue to ignore the law under the new legislation”.

What is the drink-drive limit? Click here for the UK laws explained...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025
You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest
Opinion - ease of EV ownership

You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest

Chris Rosamond explains why ultra-fast charging could convince you to make the switch to driving an EV
Opinion
17 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025