Drivers getting behind the wheel under the influence is on the rise
A report will be presented to elected members next Tuesday.
The number of drivers recklessly getting behind the wheel while under the influence has skyrocketed in Dumfries and Galloway, according to a new police report.
There were 285 crimes recorded in the first six months of 2025/26 where motorists were found to have been driving while intoxicated through alcohol or drugs.
Just three years earlier, in 2022/23, the figure for the same initial six-month period was 111 – which represents an increase of nearly 160 percent.
Alarmingly, the stats for driving under the influence have been climbing year on year, as follows: 2022/23 – 111; 2023/24 – 153; 2024/25 – 208; and 2025/26 – 285.
Numbers during the Covid pandemic were considerably lower (2020/21 – 84; 2021/22 – 85), however there was less activity on the roads during lockdowns.
Road traffic offences form part of a performance report, which Police Scotland chiefs will present to councillors next week.
The document, which covers April 1 to September 30 this year, has been finalised by Chief Superintendent Steven Meikle, Divisional Commander for Dumfries and Galloway.
A sharp increase in road deaths has also been noted in the report, with a jump from one in April-September 2024 to eight in the same period this year.
The report states: “Road traffic fatalities have increased by seven on the previous year and serious injuries are at the same level. Casualties suffering slight injuries on our roads have increased by 56 percent (42) on the previous year.
“There have been no children killed in road traffic collisions during the period and six have been seriously injured, this is an increase of five on the previous year.”
Overall, road traffic offences have increased by 284 offences (eight percent) on the five-year average, with a total of 3,911 recorded.
However, speeding offences have decreased significantly by 439 offences (32 percent) on the five-year average, with a total of 914 recorded.
The total number of crimes in all categories that were recorded in the region between April 1 to September 30 this year is 9,370 – an increase of 387 on the five-year average.
Police officers will attend the council’s police, fire, and rescue sub-committee next Tuesday afternoon to present the report and answer questions from elected members.
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