Is the Lower Limit Working?

Chief Superintendent Iain MurrayHead of Road Policing

Today

• The history of the change in Scotland

• The challenges we faced

• The impact on Scotland

History

YearsCasualties

Killed Serious Slight Total

2004-08 Ave 30 170 790 990

2008-12 Ave 20 130 630 780

2012 10 100 470 580

North Review

• ‘Strong evidence to suggest that lowering the legal BAC does help to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries at all BAC levels.’

• ‘There is sufficiently strong evidence to indicate that lowering the BAC limit changes the behaviour of drivers at all BAC levels.’

Blood Alcohol Levels

• BAC of between 20mg and 50mg – 3 times greater risk of dying in a vehicle crash

• BAC of between 50mg and 80mg – 6 times greater risk of dying in a vehicle crash

• BAC of between 80mg and 100mg – 11 times greater risk of dying in a vehicle crash

Legal Limit

• Existed since 1967

• 50 years of ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’

• Reducing the limit in Scotland – ‘Save between 3 and 17 deaths a year’ (North)

Costs per Casualty

• Fatal Collision - £1,742,988

• Serious Collision - £195,863

• Slight - £15,009

• Total Cost - £44,070,410

Challenges - Timeline

• 2007 - Discussions in Scottish Parliament

• 2008 - Discussions with UK Government

• 2012 - The Scotland Act – devolved power

• 2012 - Public Consultation – 74% support

Challenges - Timeline

• 2013 - Discussions with HO and CAST

• 2014 Aug - Agreement and Type Approval

• 2014 Oct - Put before Parliament and Justice Cttee

• 2014 Nov - Publicity Launch

• 2014 Dec - Go Live

Challenges

• Geography - 87 Devices across the country

• Type Approval – EC/IR device

• UKAS accreditation of Intoximeters

• Type Approval at new limit

• Logistics!

Launch

Launch

Launch - Media

• National TV and Radio

• 7 National Daily Newspapers

• 12 Online Publications

• Almost every local paper in the country!

Launch

Impact

• Police Scotland focus on casualty reduction

• Increased vehicle stops – 1 every 2 minutes

• Reducing drink drive figures – 6% 2012/13 to 2013/14

• Mean average – 106 per week

• Warnings counted (31 – 39) – additional 35 per week

• Potential impact – 106 increases to 141 per week

Impact

• Average figures now 80 per week

• 25% reduction on 106 – or – 58% reduction on 141….

• Prosecutions Dec - Feb – 739 down to 491, or 34%

• Between ‘Old’ and ‘New’ – 449 versus 42, or 9%

• ‘Morning After’ – 9% of total offences during campaign

• ‘Morning After’ between ‘Old’ and ‘New’ – 22% of total

Impact

• Domestic Violence – 11% reduction

• ‘Correlation’ and ‘Causation’………

Impact

• Licensed Trade

• New Measures – ‘schooner’ and 125 ml

• Later breakfasts in hotels

• Sales of self tests

Today

• The history of the change in Scotland

• The challenges we faced

• The impact on Scotland

Questions ?