north-east figures ‘disappointing’
Number of drink-drivers rises by 75% in a week
Published:
The number of people caught drink-driving in the north-east rose by 75% in the space of a week.
Grampian Police charged 28 people with driving over the legal alcohol limit last week – the second week of its Christmas drink-driving campaign – compared with 16 in week one.
Across Scotland the number of people caught drink-driving or refusing to give a breath sample fell by 51 on the same period last year to 184.
Grampian head of roads policing Chief Inspector Tom Forrester expressed his disappointment at the rise.
He said: “I am astonished that so many people would still take the risk but I did warn drivers that we would be out in force on patrol, stopping drivers and breathalysing them.
“The 28 drivers caught will not be having a very happy Christmas and in the new year they are likely to lose their driving licence for at least 12 months.”
Among those caught was a 29-year-old woman who was charged with being unfit through drink, refusing to provide a breath test, breach of the peace and assault.
A 70-year-old woman was also stopped and found to be over the legal alcohol limit while driving at Macduff.
This year’s national anti-drink-driving campaign is placing a particular emphasis on morning drivers who still have alcohol in their system from the previous night.
Three of the 28 drivers who failed breath tests last week were driving in the morning.
Grampian Joint Police Board chairman Martin Greig said that he hopes the results of the police campaign will deter others from drinking and driving. He said: “I think it’s a good result that so many were able to be caught, however it’s very unfortunate that the message of the police’s drink-driving campaign is not getting through.
“At this time of year there are a lot more parties and festive activities going on, but each individual is responsible to ensure that they do not drive while over the limit.”
Two of the drivers who failed breath tests last week were caught after being involved in collisions.
During this year’s campaign, police said that every driver seen to be committing any type of traffic offence, from speeding to driving with a damaged brake light, will be asked to provide a breath sample.
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) say that the number of people prepared to call either the police or the anonymous hotline Crimestoppers to report incidents of drink-driving during the festive period is rising.
Five of the 10 drivers who were caught drink-driving in Tayside last week were detected after being reported by members of the public.
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green, ACPOS secretary of road policing, said that drink-driving is no longer seen as acceptable in modern society.
He said: “We are receiving a considerable number of calls from people who fear that a driver may be putting themselves or others in danger by driving while over the limit.”
Grampian Police caught 84 people driving over the legal alcohol limit during last year’s winter campaign, 14 of whom were involved in collisions.
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