FOR IMMEDIATE USE MAY 25 2010
PACTS COMMENTS ON QUEEN’S SPEECH
Commenting on the publication of the Queen’s Speech today Robert Gifford, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said “At first sight, transport safety and casualty reduction might seem completely omitted from the legislative package.
“However, the Scotland Bill offers two potential contributions to improving safety on the roads north of the border. The Calman Commission (http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/uploads/2009-06-12-csd-final-report-2009fbookmarked.pdf) in recommendations 5.15 and 5.16 suggested two areas of policy worthy of devolution: the regulation making powers relating to setting the drink-drive limit and the power to determine the level of the national speed limit.
“We already know that in Great Britain a lower drink-drive limit could lead to a reduction of between 60 and 65 lives per year. A lower limit in Scotland would be a first step towards achieving this and would also allow us to assess the scale of the number of drivers caught under the new limit. I welcome this potential change to improve the safety of people north of the border.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Robert Gifford 020 7222 7732 (work)
NOTE TO EDITORS: The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety is a registered charity and associate Parliamentary group advising and informing MPs and Peers on road, rail and air safety issues.
PACTS
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