News

29 December 2008
YOUNG DRIVERS URGED NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE

THREE WEEKS into an annual festive safety campaign and the number of drivers under 25 being arrested for drink driving in Scotland is causing increasing concern.

During the third week of the month-long, Scotland-wide campaign, being led by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), 168 motorists were arrested by police officers, bringing the total to 516 people who have been arrested since December 8 and who will face the prospect of losing their driving licence in New Year.

Alarmingly, 144 of those who were prepared to take the risk and who were arrested were aged 25 and under.

That number included eight females, one of whom was a 19-year-old whose vehicle was stopped by Strathclyde Police on Christmas Day after attempting to leave the scene of an accident in Edrom Court in Glasgow at 7:00 a.m. 

The young woman failed a roadside breath test, was arrested and taken to a police station where a second test provided a reading twice the drink drive limit.

 “Too many young people who have been celebrating during the festive season are getting behind the wheel and putting themselves and other road users as well as the public at risk,” said Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green (Strathclyde Police), Secretary of the Road Policing Business Area of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).

“There may be some confusion by people who have listened to recent health messages indicating how many units a person can drink and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This does not relate to alcohol consumption and driving,” Mr. Green added.

“My advice to all drivers is not to drink any alcohol before driving.”

During the third week of the campaign, a number of incidents involving young drivers included:

• A 20-year-old male disqualified driver whose vehicle collided with a petrol pump in the forecourt of a service station in Stirling before being driven off.  When Central Scotland Police traced the motorist, he was found to be nearly three times over the limit.
• An 18-year-old male was found to be over twice the limit by Grampian Police in Fraserburgh on Christmas day.  In addition to being arrested, he was charged with unlawful removal of a vehicle, driving with a provisional driving licence and no motor insurance.
• A 21-year-old male, who failed to stop after colliding with a parked car in Mainshill, in the Erskine area, on December 23, was traced by Strathclyde Police.  He provided a positive breath test, was arrested and taken to a police office where he provided readings of double the limit.
• A 20-year-old male was stopped by Strathclyde Police in Arden after driving a mini-motorbike erratically into a children’s playpark and falling off it. He failed a roadside breath test, was arrested and taken to a police station  where he was found to be in excess of the drink drive limit as well as in possession of a small amount of drugs.

Among other incidents throughout the country that involved older drivers were:

• A 26-year-old female found to be four times over the limit by Lothian and Borders Police, involved in a single vehicle collision where the car left the road and rolled down a banking in the Scottish Borders.
• A 26-year-old male, driving a van at excessive speed, was stopped by Strathclyde Police after he failed to observe a vehicle turning left in front of him.  He swerved into the opposing carriage way, struck the kerb and mounted a traffic island as well as an embankment and then drove down seven metres into a burn where he had to be rescued by Fire Service personnel,  He sustained serious facial injuries and was taken to hospital after providing a positive breath sample.
• A 44 year-old male was arrested in the Leuchars area by Fife Constabulary officers on December 22 after an incident in Warwick Close.  He was over the limit and was charged with drink driving, careless driving and failing to stop at or report a road accident.
• A 45-year-old male, driving a 40 tonne articulated tipper truck on the A80 northbound near Moodiesburn, was stopped by Strathclyde Police on December 22.  He provided a positive roadside breath test, was arrested and when taken to Cumbernauld police office, was found to be four times over the drink drive limit.