Summer Drink Drive Blitz for Scotland
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Summer Drink Drive Blitz for Scotland
A crackdown on drink and drug driving by Police Scotland launches this week.
Latest figures show that motorists caught ‘driving under the influence’ (DUI) has increased by a third in the past five years.
The annual Recorded Crime in Scotland report published last week showed 7,815 DUI offences in 2022/23 – compared with 5,863 in 2017/2018.
Separate figures from Transport Scotland reveal there are 20 deaths a year caused by drink driving.
The Scottish drink drive limit was lowered in December 2014 from 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood (0.80‰ BAC) to 50mg (0.50‰ BAC).
A study of 1000 people in Scotland by breathalyser firm AlcoSense found 53% of motorists have now reduced the amount of alcohol they drink, when they will be driving later that day or the following morning.
“But there’s still a persistent minority who flout the law and drive above the limit”, comments MD Hunter Abbott.
“When you go out drinking this Summer, plan ahead for how you’ll get home – whether it’s walking, public transport, taxi or designated alcohol-free driver.
“Even a small amount of alcohol slows reaction time, inhibits judgement and reduces concentration - increasing the likelihood of an accident”.
Police Scotland’s Summer blitz runs for three weeks, from 26 June to 16 July.
During last year’s two week intelligence-led campaign, 585 roadside breath screening tests were carried out plus 152 drug tests. Officers detected 295 DUI offences – an astonishing failure rate of 40%.
However analysis by AlcoSense shows that, across the year, breath test failure rates in Scotland (3.5%) are considerably lower than in England & Wales (6%).
“Motorists should either abstain completely or use a personal breathalyser to check they are clear the following morning,” adds Hunter Abbott.
