News

14 July 2009
POLICE CHIEFS PRAISE LATEST DRINK DRIVING FIGURES

Figures for the first week of the ‘Summer Drink-Drugs Driving Campaign’ launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland show the message to motorists about driving under the influence is getting through.

From Monday 6th July to Tuesday 14th July 2009, 122 people were found to be over the limit and charged with drink driving offences – down almost 17 per cent on the previous year’s figures. 22 of those were involved in collisions and a further 100 were stopped for suspected drink driving.

In addition, nine motorists were found to be driving under the influence of drugs

The campaign, which runs until Monday 20th July 2009 aims to drive home the message to motorists that driving whilst affected by drugs or alcohol is unacceptable.

Chief Superintendent Brian Anderson of Dumfries and Galloway Police, who leads on casualty reduction and drink driving for ACPOS, said:

“It’s heartening to see a decrease in this year’s figures for those caught drink driving in the first week of our annual campaign, but we still need to bring those figures down.

“Our aim is to highlight the consequences to motorists to prevent them from driving under the influence in the first place, and it’s clear that message is getting through.

“This reckless act doesn’t just cost the offender their driving licence or a fine, it can cost people their jobs too and ultimately the lives of themselves or others.”

And when it came to being over the limit or under the influence of drugs while driving, 131 motorists in the past week have found out what the consequences of their drinking or drug taking and driving has been.

• In Ayrshire, a 37-year-old woman was arrested by Strathclyde Police after colliding with a parked vehicle. She provided a positive breath test and will appear in court early next month
• A 27-year-old woman was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Her three month old daughter was asleep in the vehicle when the woman was stopped by officers from Lothian & Borders
• In Inverness, a 26-year-old man was found to be over the limit after striking two cars in the City Centre
• Officers from Tayside who stopped a woman driving erratically in Dundee found the 30-year-old to be three times over the limit

Chief Superintendent Brian Anderson of Dumfries and Galloway Police continues;

“While we are pleased by our first week figures, officers will still be on patrol and carrying out road checks in your local area, where there’s a high chance of you being stopped during the current campaign.

“This also takes into account morning drivers, who may still have alcohol in their system – that has been the case with twelve drivers stopped in the first week of our campaign.

“Throughout Scotland, police are cracking down on drivers who flout the law, putting themselves and others at risk, and I urge motorists who drink or take drugs and drive to think long and hard before they get behind the wheel.

“The consequences for both themselves and for others are well documented.  Don’t risk it!”