Campaign to stop drunk driving records 185 offences in fortnight

The Scottish government and Road Safety Scotland released the figures, which apply to drivers stopped and breathalysed between 29 May–12 June 2015, the first two weeks of the 2015 “Summer Drink Drive” campaign.

The public awareness campaign — under the strapline “Don’t spoil Summer” — runs in parallel with Police Scotland’s summer safety enforcement campaign.

Over the same period in 2014, only one in every 55 drivers was over the limit.

However, Scotland’s new drink driving limit, introduced in December 2014, means just one drink can put a driver over the limit.

Justice secretary Michael Matheson said: “When the Summer Drink Drive campaign launched two weeks ago, it had a simple message: don’t risk it.

“With the police stopping thousands of drivers each month, there can be serious consequences for anyone caught drink driving.

“Even with the sun shining over Scotland, it’s never safe to drink and drive.

“Police breath tests show one in 40 stopped drivers is over the legal limit. That kind of reckless behaviour cannot be tolerated in Scotland – it puts everyone involved in danger.

“The reality is that having even one alcoholic drink before driving makes you three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. It’s definitely not worth that risk.”

Chief superintendent Iain Murray, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: “These statistics are a timely reminder that drinking and driving is not just something that happens at Christmas and targeting those who continue to put themselves and others needlessly at risk in this way is a year-round priority for the police.”

He added: “Over the coming months, Police Scotland will continue its efforts to make Scotland’s roads safer for all road users and reducing drink driving offences, or catching those who continue to do so, will remain a focus of activity across the country.”