With Christmas nights out fast approaching, police are urging people to stay safe by planning ahead.
Police Scotland has today launched its annual festive road safety campaign, warning that regular drink and drug driving checks will be carried out.
The campaign, which runs until January 2, also aims to highlight the dangers of driving after consuming alcohol and drugs.
Last year, more than 600 drivers were detected for drink or drug driving offences during the initiative.
Speaking at the campaign launch at Inverurie Police Station, Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock encouraged people to enjoy their celebrations but also to get home safely.
The head of roads policing said: “Please enjoy your festivities, enjoy the run up to Christmas as we all want to but we really want people to get home safely,” she said.
“My advice would be to plan ahead so please if you’re enjoying a drink or if you’re taking drugs please work out how you’re going to get home.
‘The morning after is equally as important as the night before’
“Plan your journey, use public transport, get family or friends to pick you up, speak about having a designated driver.
“These are all really important steps to make sure you’re not tempted to get behind the wheel and really don’t risk it.
“The morning after is equally as important as the night before. A lot of people don’t think about it in the same way so if you’re planning how to get home on your night out, please, please plan how you’re going to get to work the next day.
“If you have to ask yourself ‘Am I OK to drive?’ the answer is probably no.
“So again don’t risk it, take public transport, arrange to get a lift or work at home now as a lot of people can do. So just really plan ahead and make alternative arrangements.”
Relying on the public to help
Officers will be using breathalysers and drug wipes to catch offenders, with local patrols assisted by the roads team.
If people then test positive for drugs or are shown to have high levels of alcohol in their system, they will be taken to a custody centre and properly tested again for more accurate levels.
Ch Supt Blakelock urged drivers to think of the consequences of drink or drug driving.
“The major consequence is loss of life and every road death is avoidable and it’s a tragedy,” she said.
“If it’s not death it can be serious injury, but also it could be your licence so if you’re caught drink driving or taking drugs you will lose your licence.
“There’s financial penalties fines as well but ultimately you could also be imprisoned depending on the circumstances. So there’s a lot at stake but the main issue for us in the death toll.”
Members of the public are being encouraged to report any concerns they have.
Ch Supt Blacklock added: “We really rely on that from the public because we can’t be everywhere all the time but we absolutely try and act on any intelligence that we get.”
Conversation