As Scotland prepares for the change in drink driving laws on December 5, a public information drive has been launched to warn drivers of the risks relating to, amongst other things, being over the limit the morning after a night of alcohol consumption.

The new limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – a reduction of 30mg of alcohol from previously accepted levels and those still in place in England – will put Scotland in line with France, Germany and Spain on tolerance of drink driving.

When the new law comes into force around 10,000 police officers will be on Scotland's roads to carry out spot-check breath tests and drivers are being warned that a failed test could see them receive a driving ban, a criminal record and possibly a jail sentence.

Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, head of road policing for Police Scotland, said, "If you have had a drink, you have voluntarily put yourself at risk and impacted your ability to drive."

He added that no matter how much a driver may feel he or she is okay to get behind the wheel, the consumption of alcohol will have altered their ability to drive from when they were in a "fully alert, fully sober" state.

Thompsons Solicitors Scotland act for victims of car accidents on a regular basis and hope that the change in the law will reduce the number of innocent people caught up in the misery of personal injury accidents caused by drink drivers.