Proportion of drivers over drink/drug legal limit in festive crackdown increases

Police officers have said they are `disappointed' after the proportion of drivers found to be over the legal limit increased during a four-week drink/drug enforcement campaign.

Figures from Police Scotland show an average of 471 drivers were breathalysed every day during the 2017/18 festive crackdown.

Of the 15,771 drivers stopped, 567 (1 in 28) were detected for drink/drug driving, compared with 625 (1 in 30) during the same period in 2016/17.

The number of drivers who tested between the old and new limits dropped from 57 (9%) last year to 18 (3%) this year.

Out of the the 567 detected, 39 (7%) were caught the morning after, which fell from 46 (7%) in 2016/17.

In the Highlands and Islands, a woman driver was stopped on three separate occasions over an eight-day period.

She was allegedly over the limit on each occasion and was given an interim disqualification pending a court appearance.

In the same area an HGV driver was found to be three times over the limit while a taxi driver, carrying passengers, was said to be two-and-a-half times over after being stopped in Paisley, Renfrewshire, where he was seen jumping a red light.

Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing, said: It is disappointing that the proportion of drivers detected has increased.

`Notably, there were fewer drivers caught driving while still intoxicated 'the morning after' but there remains a hard core of drivers who continue to risk their lives and the lives of others by drink/drug driving.

`Very few of those caught were found to be between the new alcohol limit of 22mg per 100ml of breath and the old limit 35mg per 100 ml of breath.

`In fact, many of those caught were found to be significantly over the previous drink-drive breath limit, some following road traffic collisions in which people were injured.'

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: `It is disappointing that a persistent minority of drivers are continuing to ignore the law and put their lives and those of others at risk, by driving while under the influence of alcohol.

`Those who have failed drink-drive tests will face a minimum 12-month driving ban, a criminal record for a lengthy period and a substantial fine.

`The campaign reinforces that drink-driving is unacceptable and although this particular campaign focused on the festive period, it's an important message to remember all year round.'