75% 'want more drink-drive powers'

Jan 4 2013

Three-quarters of people want the Scottish Government to be given new powers to crack down on drink driving.

Just 8% are opposed and a further 13% neither support nor oppose further powers being given, while 4% do not know, a survey by YouGov found.

The research was disclosed just days after the close of the latest drink-driving campaign in which police across Scotland said they found 462 drivers behind the wheel under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. The total is down from the 496 motorists caught last year but Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill hit out at those who "still hold outdated attitudes and think it's okay to drink and drive".

He said: "Sadly we've already seen hundreds of drivers ignore the risks and put lives in danger in the last few weeks. That is absolutely deplorable in this day and age and these people are finding out the hard way that their actions will be met with the full force of the law. The Scottish public have clearly also had enough of them. It is encouraging to see so many people speaking out, and we agree with them."

The Scottish Government has already set out plans to reduce the existing drink-driving limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg, after new powers were devolved to Holyrood.

The UK Government has so far "ignored" pleas from Holyrood ministers to hand them the powers to introduce random breath testing, Mr MacAskill said. The poll sends a "clear message to the UK Government that Scotland should be given the additional powers we need".

The Justice Secretary said: "We want to move to a situation where people are left with no excuse as it is becoming increasingly clear that the only way to get through to drink drivers is a no-nonsense approach.

"The UK Government need to listen to the Scottish public, give us the additional drink-drive powers we are asking for so that we can show these drink drivers that their actions will not be tolerated.

"We are already taking action to reduce the current limit using the powers recently transferred to us by the UK Government after years of lobbying. Scotland now plans to take action to reduce drink-drive limits and bring us into line with other European countries, but we want to go even further.

"Sadly the UK Government ignored our pleas to transfer the additional powers necessary to give our police forces the tools they need to crack down on drink drivers, such as carrying out breath testing anytime, anywhere."