CAMPAIGNING MSP HAILS DRINK DRIVING RECOMMENDATIONS

CAMPAIGNING MSP HAILS DRINK DRIVING RECOMMENDATIONS
Dave Thompson MSP, long-time campaigner and advocate for reducing the legal drink driving limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood down to 50mg of alcohol, has hailed today's formal recommendations by Sir Peter North CBE QC, leader of an independent review of the law on drink and drug driving, as crucial and timely.
A reduction in the limit, supported by the British Medical Association (BMA) and BMA Scotland, ACPOS, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RSPoA) and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), among many other organisations, would bring the UK's limit in line with the majority of EU countries and be the first update of the limit since it was first set over 40 years ago.
The Highlands & Islands MSP has lead the campaign lobbying the UK Government for a reduction in the limit since he was first elected in 2007 with the support of the First Minister and Scotland's Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. With the recent Queen's Speech outlining powers over the drink driving limit to be transferred to Scottish Ministers, Mr Thompson is urging the new UK Government, which previously opposed any suggested reduction to the limit when in opposition, to immediately transfer powers over reducing the limit to the Scottish Government. With the necessary orders already prepared, Scottish Ministers could very quickly lower the limit in Scotland, as Northern Ireland - who already had the relevant powers over their drink drive limit - have already begun implementing.
Dave Thompson said:
"Sir Peter North's recommendations are crucial and timely, and will be welcomed by the leading organisations in this field.
"It is vital that the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and the rest of his UK Government do not allow any further delay on this issue. The Queen's Speech confirmed that drink drive powers will be transferred to Scottish Ministers. Now that the review has concluded a reduction in the limit is the right move forward there is no reason left to leave it at its outdated and dangerous current level and no reason not to transfer power immediately.
"I will be writing to Scotland's Justice Secretary and the Lord Advocate for their response to the additional recommendations of Sir Peter North, including that coroners routinely test for, and provide data, on the presence of alcohol and drugs in road fatalities and that the forthcoming Scottish Sentencing Council consider Sir Peter's recommendations on sentences for drink and drug related offences.
"I urge Philip Hammond and Michael Moore to take swift action on this issue. With Northern Ireland already in motion in reducing its own limit to 50 mg, Scotland needs to be free to act.  Far too many lives have been lost to drink driving because of countless reviews of this limit. The appointed authority on this issue just recommended lowering the limit. Informed opinion confirms this is the right move for the country. We cannot waste another day.