600 drivers caught out

Renfrewshire motorists were among almost 600 people caught drink or drug-driving over the festive period.

Figures released by Police Scotland following the seasonal crackdown, from December 1 to January 2, show 8,632 drivers were stopped and breathalysed, with 565 found to be committing drink or drug-driving offences.

This is equivalent to one every 15 motorists breathalysed found to be over the limit.

And of those 565 people, 23 were caught driving the morning after they had been drinking.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said:“I am very disappointed that of the 8,632 drivers stopped and breathalysed during our festive road safety campaign, we caught 565 people for drink/ drug-driving offences.

“This means that one in every 15 drivers breathalysed by officers were over the limit, compared with one in 28 during the same period in 2017/18.

“It was very alarming that during this period, 33 motorists were caught more than four times over the limit.”

He added he was “encouraged by the number of calls received from members of the public providing accurate information about drink-drivers, which helped officers to act promptly and stop them.”

During the festive period, police made 64 vehicle forfeiture requests to the procurator fiscal as a result of drink-driving.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf added: “It is disappointing that a persistent minority of drivers are continuing to ignore the law and put their lives and those of others at risk, by driving while under the influence of alcohol.”