Police chiefs demand drink driving limit in England and Wales to be reduced to Scottish level

Police commissioners are calling for the drink-driving limit in England and Wales to be cut by a third and brought into line with the limit in place north of the border.

In 2014, Scotland put in place a limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, compared with England's limit of 80mg per 100ml.

But three police and crime chiefs in northern England, covering forces close to the Scottish border say this two-tier system is confusing for drivers and leads to accidents.

In a letter to the Times, three Labour police and crime commissioners from the northeast demanded a change to bring the rest of Britain into line with Scotland.

Ron Hogg, of Durham, Vera Baird, from Northumbria, and Barry Coppinger, for Cleveland, say it is "proven that a lower drink-drive limit significantly improves road safety and reduces drink-drive related deaths".

The number of drink-driving offences in Scotland has fallen significantly since it introduced lower limits, which brought it in line with other European countries like France.

However ministers in England have ruled out introducing any change in the short or medium term. Andrew Jones, the roads minister, said earlier this month that the existing limit struck the necessary "balance between safety and personal freedom".

England's alcohol limit for driving is the joint highest in Europe, alongside Malta.