None for the Road? Stricter Drink Driving Laws and Road Accidents

Abstract

Reducing drink drive limits is generally regarded an effective strategy to save lives on the road. Using several new administrative data sources, we evaluate the effect of a stricter limit introduced in Scotland in 2014. This reduction had no effect on drink driving and road collisions. Estimates from a supply-of-offenses function suggests that the reform did not have much ex-ante scope for sizeable effects. The unavailability of cheaper alternative means of transportation and weak law enforcement seem to have been the main channels behind the lack of an impact. We find no externality on a wide range of domains, from alcohol consumption to criminal activities other than drink driving.

Doctors call for drink driving limit to be lowered to match other European countries

“…The limit in Scotland was lowered from 80 mg to 50 mg in 2014,2 after an independent review found that drivers were six times more likely to die in a road traffic incident with a blood alcohol concentration between 50 mg and 80 mg than with zero blood alcohol 3. Some researchers have said that lowering the limit in Scotland has not reduced drunk driving or alcohol related crashes, as it was not accompanied by other changes such as better law enforcement or improved access to public transport 4…”