SCOZIA. Un gruppo che si occupa di sicurezza stradale sollecita pene più leggere per gli automobilisti ubriachi / traduzione di Claudio Martino (AIFVS)
La Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Società reale per la prevenzione degli incidenti) ha consigliato ai ministri del governo scozzese di imporre una sanzione più tenue contro quanti sono al disopra del nuovo limite, ma ancora al disotto della soglia finora applicata.
L’organizzazione ha dichiarato che stava chiedendo pene ridotte anche temporanee perché “cambiare le abitudini della gente richiede tempo”.
Durante il fine settimana, importanti esperti di problemi sanitari ed organizzazioni di commercianti hanno fatto presente che automobilisti del giorno dopo potrebbero essere colpiti dai limiti più bassi, che dovrebbero entrare in vigore prima della fine dell’anno.
Il governo ha annunciato la settimana scorsa che il limite per quanti guidano in stato di ebbrezza si abbasserà a dicembre da 80 a 50 milligrammi di alcol per 100 millilitri di sangue.
Vuol dire che gli automobilisti che hanno consumato mezza pinta di birra forte od un bicchiere di vino potrebbero violare la legge.
Preoccupazioni sono state sollevate riguardo alle persone che varcano la frontiera essendo al disopra del limite, pur essendo ancora nella legalità se provenienti dall’Inghilterra, dove il limite resterà di 80 milligrammi, così come potrebbero essere criminalizzati automobilisti che potrebbero aver bevuto la notte prima.
Road safety group urges softer penalties for drink-drivers
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has advised Scottish government ministers to apply a lesser sanction against those above the new limit but still below the outgoing threshold.
The organisation said it was calling for even temporary reduced penalties because “it does take time to change people’s attitudes”.
At the weekend, leading health experts and trade organisations warned morning-after motorists could be hit by the lower limits, which will be in place before the end of the year.
Ministers announced last week that the drink-drive limit would fall in December from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg.
It means drivers who have consumed half a pint of strong beer or a glass of wine could fall foul of the law.
Concerns have been raised about people crossing the Border and being over the limit, despite being still legal if coming from England where it will remain 80mg, as well as criminalising motorists who may have been drinking the night before.
The Scottish government said it does not have the power to vary the penalties for drink-driving as these are reserved for Westminster. It will launch a series of television advertisements ahead of the introduction of the new limit, including channels around the north of England to target drivers who cross the Border regularly.
But in its submission to the Scottish government on the changes, Rospa said: “To encourage public acceptance of the new limits, Rospa would support a six-month rather than 12-month disqualification for drivers between 50mg and 80mg/100ml.
“This would recognise that some people may inadvertently exceed the new lower limit but recognise the seriousness of the offence, and a six-month disqualification would still be a significant deterrent for most people.
“The penalty for those exceeding 80mg should continue to include a driving disqualification for at least one year, and longer for higher levels of alcohol.”
At the weekend, Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, questioned whether being just over the 50mg level would carry the same sanction as those currently in excess of the current legal limit.
He said in some European countries where 50mg is the limit the sanctions are less severe.
Karen McDonald, head of Rospa Scotland, said: “In the early days of the introduction we are endeavouring to provide an alternative aspect for consideration. We are saying they should be penalised but perhaps we recognise that it does take time to change people’s attitudes.”
