Calls for Scotland’s drivers to stay sober

Brake, the road safety charity, is calling on Scotland's drivers to commit to staying stone cold sober if driving home from Christmas festivities, to avoid causing devastating casualties.

The call comes as Police Scotland's annual drink and drug driving enforcement campaign kicks off. The month long campaign sees forces across Scotland stepping up checks to catch drink and drug drivers putting lives in danger.

In 2011 (most recent figures available), drivers over the drink drive limit were responsible for 680 road casualties in Scotland; 90 people sustained serious injuries and 20 were killed. While casualties have dropped by 43% since 2001, Brake argues more must be done to reduce these entirely preventable deaths and serious injuries to zero.

Brake has welcomed the Scottish Government's plans to lower the drink drive limit, from 80mg to 50mg alcohol per 100ml blood, as a step in the right direction. However, evidence is clear that even one drink dramatically increases crash risk, with a blood alcohol level of 20-50mg increasing your likelihood of crashing three-fold.

This is why Brake is campaigning for a zero tolerance limit of 20mg, to send a clear message it should be none for the road, and is appealing to the public to speak out against all levels of drink driving.

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