None for the road? Stricter drink driving laws

18 August 2021

A new study argues that lower drink drive limits need to be backed up with stricter enforcement to tackle persistent drink driving-related accidents.

The introduction of a tougher drink drive limit in Scotland over six years ago has had ‘no effect’ at reducing drink driving or alcohol related collisions, according to this academic study. 

Researchers from the Universities of Bath and Essex paint a worrying picture: there has been no change across all types of accidents involving alcohol as a result of the introduction of a stricter limit of 50mlg per 100mml introduced in Scotland in December 2014. 

Their results were consistent for men and women, for younger and older drivers and whether accidents took place at night or in the day / in the week or at the weekend. In addition, the findings suggest the reform did not reduce other crimes as had been expected.

The research findings can be found here with further information on the Road Safety Knowledge Centre