Drink Driving Down As Police Launch Summer Campaign

The number of drink driving offences in Scotland has dropped by 17%, compared to this time last year.

997 people were convicted between January and March this year, 212 less than in 2014. But suspected drunk drivers are still being stopped every 2 minutes by officers in Scotland. The legal limit was reduced from 80 to 50 miligrams in December. 

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched their 2015 Summer Drink Drive campaign in support of Police Scotland’s Summer Safety Campaign. Police Scotland enforcement activity is running alongside Road Safety Scotland’s social marketing campaign, which highlights the often spontaneous nature of summer socialising.

Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, said:

"Our message is simple – don’t spoil summer for you and your family or another family by drinking and driving. Police Scotland stop more than 20,000 Scottish drivers a month. That’s one vehicle every two minutes.  If you have committed an offence, or if we have reasonable cause to suspect that you have been drinking, you may be subjected to a breath test. 

"Even if you’re just over the limit, you’re still a drunk driver in the eyes of the law – there is no grey area. This may affect your current and future employment and can have wider implications for other areas of your life including overseas travel, even just for family holidays. If you drink and drive, you won’t just spoil summer."