News

28 December 2007
POLICE WARN ALL MOTORISTS – DON’T RISK IT!

DRINK drivers in Scotland are coming from both genders and from all age groups, the latest statistics from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland show.

In the three weeks since the festive drink-drug driving campaign backed by ACPOS began over 100 female drivers have been found to be over the drink drive limit across Scotland. The number of young drivers also continues to rise.

The total for week three of the campaign is 223 bringing the total number of drivers charged with drink or drug driving offences to 657.

The chances of drivers who get behind the wheel after taking alcohol or drugs being detected by police are greater than ever with roadside testing being carried out after all road accidents and moving traffic offences which includes speeding and defective lighting.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green of Strathclyde Police, Secretary of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area, said:

“It is a disappointing statistic that over 100 female drivers have been found to be over the drink drive limit since the festive safety campaign began. I am also alarmed at the number of young drivers detected by officers as having been drinking or taking drugs before driving.”

He added:
“For many years there was a perception that middle aged male drivers were the worst offenders when it came to drink driving but our figures show that a wide spectrum of people in Scotland are taking a risk with their safety and the safety of others”.

“It is worth considering that the police are determined to catch all drink drivers, regardless of their gender or age. Analysis of the campaign so far highlights this fact with over 100 women drivers in the total of 657.”

A call was received from a member of the public during the evening of 22 December regarding a driver alleged drunk in Tranent.  The vehicle was later traced and the driver, a 45 year-old female, was found to be almost four times the legal limit.

In the early hours of Boxing Day in Central Scotland, a motorist was followed for over five miles by a concerned motorist who alerted the police that the vehicle had narrowly missed several vehicles, forcing some from the road. The driver, a 38 year old female, was found to be nearly three times the limit.

Among other incidents of note were:

• A 20 year old male in Denny, charged with drink driving having a breath count of 100, was also charged with stealing a car, driving without ‘L’ plates and having no insurance.

• In Fife during a routine patrol, a 27-year-old male was stopped for driving while using a mobile phone, subsequently failed the roadside breath test and reported for giving a reading of 40 against the limit of 35.

• In Moray a 32-year-old male was arrested for drink driving and also found to be disqualified.

• In Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, a 17 year old male was found to be almost three times the limit.

• In Hamilton, Lanarkshire, a 24 year old male was arrested after a lookout request and found to be almost twice the limit.

• Also in Hamilton a 24-year-old female was traced by police and found to be more than twice the limit.

• In Perth a 43 year old woman was arrested after contacting the Police to advise that she had been involved in a collision.  She was found to be nearly twice the limit.

• In Dundee an 18 year old female was arrested after being reported by an off duty Police officer. She was more than twice the limit.

For further information, contact:

David Steele, ACPOS Communications Manager,
0141 435 1240 or 07771 842 881 out-of-hours.

For information at the Force level, please contact your local police force press office.