Festive drink and drug-driving figures in Scotland are up by 100 on last year. A massive 908 drivers were stopped by police for drink and drug-driving during a four-week crackdown, which ran from December 6 to January 3. Of those caught, 852 were stopped for drink-driving or refusing to give a breath test, while 27 were caught drug-driving. And 29 drivers were so drunk, they were unable to give a breath or blood test. The four-week Festive Safety Campaign was run by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. The Daily Record
Meanwhile, The SNP has called for Scotland's drink-driving limit to be cut immediately following a rise in the number of young motorists found to be well over the limit. Deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said that, if necessary, the Scottish Parliament should be given powers to legislate in order to amend the law.
Currently, the powers to act are reserved to Westminster. Britain has one of the most liberal drink-driving limits in Europe, at 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The SNP voted to reduce the limit to 50mg per 100 millilitres in October.
Sturgeon said: "Recent figures show an alarming increase in the number of under-21s convicted of drink-driving. "Between 1996 and 2004/05 there was a 20% increase in the number of drivers under the age of 21 who were convicted of drink-driving. "This is a serious problem and has to be addressed."
The party says about one in seven of the deaths on Scotland's roads is a direct result of drink-driving. Figures obtained by the party indicate that, in 2004, an estimated 40 people were killed on the roads due to drink-driving in Scotland. There were 11,257 recorded cases of drink-driving in 2005/06.
"Even in small amounts, alcohol can affect driving performance," Sturgeon added. "However, the effects on each individual can be influenced by a wide range of factors. "The Scottish Parliament must have more powers to change the limit, as the matter is reserved to Westminster." The Scotsman
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