COMPANY car drivers have been warned that lower drink-drive limits could be heading to English roads after the success of Scotland’s reduced levels.

Police north of the border tested 17,504 drivers for alcohol as part of a four week festive period drink-drive campaign catching 351 drivers over the legal alcohol limit, compared to 434 drivers last year – a 19% reduction.

Figures from the Scottish government also show that drivers are five times more likely to be caught just over the new legal limit the morning after.

An Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) survey statistics report in October found more than 47% of respondents support adopting Scottish drink-drive laws across England and Wales.

IAM’s director of policy and research, Neil Greig said: “The IAM welcomes the overall fall in drink-driving in Scotland which is not unexpected given all the publicity around the new law.

“The vast majority of drivers have got the ‘none for the road’ message but what the figures do show is that a hard core continue to ignore any limit. They are the real danger on the road and must remain the top police priority.

“The lower limit was a welcome addition to reinforce the drink-drive message but police must now redouble their efforts to identify and catch those selfish drivers who put everyone at risk through excessive drinking.”