News

31 July 2007
184 MORE MOTORISTS FAILED TO HEED THE WARNING LAST WEEK NOT TO DRINK OR DO DRUGS AND DRIVE

SCOTLAND’S police chiefs warned two weeks ago that there would be no hiding place for those who drink or take drugs and drive anytime or anywhere throughout the country.

And last week - the second and final week of the 2007 Summer Drink/Drugs Driving Campaign, launched in mid-July by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) - 184 more motorists – 160 males and 24 females – found out the hard way that Scotland’s police officers were going to breath test not only drivers who were involved in road traffic accidents or suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs but also drivers who were stopped in relation to a moving traffic offence. 

The second week’s results showed a 24 per cent increase in the number of drivers who were caught with the biggest increase being male drivers under 25 – a jump from 36 in week one to  49 in week two – a 36 per cent increase.  In addition, collisions nearly doubled with 507 non-injury in week two compared to 258 in week one; 135 collisions with injuries compared to 72.

“It is frustrating that so many drivers think that they can get away with drink driving,” said Assistant Chief Constable Ian Learmonth, Secretary of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area.  “We have warned drivers that we would be expanding our roadside testing during the two-week-long summer drink/drugs driving campaign but there seems to be a hard core who think that they won’t be caught.”

During the two-week-long campaign (Summary plus Week One – Week Two):

• 309 motorists were caught for drunk driving (139 – 170); 
• 9 motorists were found unfit through drink (1 – 8);
• 14 motorists were found unfit through drugs (8 – 6).

By gender (Summary plus Week One – Week Two):

• 273 males and 36 females were caught for drunk driving (124 – 149 males; 15 – 21 females);
• 6 males and 3 females were found unfit through drink ( 1 – 0 males; 5 – 3 females);
• 13 males and 1 female were found unfit through drugs (7 – 6 males; 1 – 0 females).

By age and gender (Summary Breakdown):

• 97 males and 8 females under 25 were caught drink driving;
• 161 males and 26 females aged between 26 and 55 were caught drink driving;
• 15 males and 2 females over 55 were caught drink driving;
• 2 males under 25 were found unfit through drink;
• 4 males and 3 females aged between 26 and 55 were found unfit through drink;
• 5 males under 25 were found unfit through drugs; and,
• 8 males and two females aged between 26 and 55 were found unfit through drugs;

“The incidence of and the increase in drink drivers – particularly those under 25 – is very frustrating and the Scottish Police Service takes some comfort from the fact that they have been caught and, in many cases, will not be driving on our roads for the foreseeable future,” said Mr. Learmonth.

“The law is quite clear.  Our message is strong: Do not think that you can get away with it.  We will catch you.  Don’t risk it!”