A case study exploration of public responses to the lowered drink-driving limit within a Scottish community

Abstract

On December 5th 2014 the legal drink-drive limit in Scotland was reduced from 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 ml of breath to 22 microgrammes. This policy change was rationalised during consultation in road safety terms with a lowered limit linked to preventing road accidents and fatalities brought about by alcohol. Accordingly, the overall aim of this research was to generate an understanding on how civilian drivers have responded to the reduced drink-driving limit more than six months after its introduction. In turn, this endeavoured to satisfy a key objective of this research which is to develop research on road policing in Scotland. This last point was also a prerequisite for the exploratory and descriptive basis of this study. In particular, this research adopts an adaptive theoretical approach, qualitative research strategy and case study research design. A total of ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with civilian drivers residing in a rural community in Scotland. Interviews primarily investigated three themes: decisions-making theories, ecological approaches, and public knowledge of road policing. Analysis of data produced two overarching findings. The new limit has had an inconsequential effect on police reporting and has failed to change driver’s perceptions of dangerous driving with both still used in conjunction with excessively ‘drunk-driving’ cases amongst interviewees in this study. These ideas are discussed in this report in connection to firstly, prevalent contradicting narrative constructions of drink-driving and secondly, drink-driving prevention. Implications of these findings are discussed in accordance with promoting both community policing and collective efficacy.