7 January 08
REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF DRINK DRIVERS IN HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS
MIRRORS PICTURE ACROSS SCOTLAND
POLICE say they are pleased at the reduction in the number of people caught drink driving at the end of this year’s Festive Road Safety Campaign.

A total of 61 drink drivers were detected during this year’s four-week campaign, compared to 75 in 2006/2007. Only one drug drivers was detected during this year’s campaign.

The final week of the campaign saw 13 drink drivers detected, compared to 22 during the same period last year.

Police believe that one of the reasons for the decrease could be the beginning of a change in attitudes towards the dangerous practice of drink driving.

Inspector John Smith, Head of the Force’s Road Policing Section, said: “At the end of this year’s Festive Road Safety campaign we are pleased to see a reduction in the number of drink drivers detected.

“This trend mirrors the situation across Scotland this year. Part of the reason for this reduction is that more drivers appear to be making informed decisions about the risks they could potentially pose to themselves and other road users.

“We would like to thank the vast majority of people in the Highlands and Islands for adopting this sensible attitude, which helps Police make our roads safer.”

However, Inspector Smith also highlighted that a number of people continue to ignore the dangers and the widely publicised warnings.

He added: “There are still a large number of people who make the decision to drink and drive despite the consequences which we have made quite clear in previous weeks.

“Northern Constabulary’s increased its pro-activity in relation to drink drivers over the festive period. We also gathered intelligence throughout the campaign, which will be used in the future to target areas where drink driving remains an issue.

“The fact that we detected 61 drink drivers during the four week campaign shows that our intelligence-led pro-activity has helped to make the roads of the Highlands and Islands a safer place to be.”

Inspector Smith has promised Northern Constabulary will continue to tackle those who drink or take drugs before driving.

He said: “Although the Festive Road Safety campaign has come to an end our pro-activity in relation to drink and drug driving has not and we will continue to enforce the law in this regard.”

Northern Constabulary launched its annual Festive Road Safety Campaign on Friday 7 December and asked people to think about how much they could lose by drinking and driving.

Northern Constabulary would urge any member of the public who suspects someone has or is about to take drink or drugs before driving to contact their nearest Police station or contact Crimestoppers 24-7 anonymously on 0800 555 111.

31 December 07
POLICE TO TARGET YOUNG DRIVERS AS FIGURES CHALLENGE THE MYTH THAT DRINK DRIVING IS COMMITTED MAINLY BY OLDER GENERATION

NORTHERN Constabulary will target their efforts towards the younger generation after week three of the Festive Road Safety campaign saw six youngsters detected for drink driving.

A total of 17 drink drivers and no drug drivers were detected at the end of week three of the campaign.

All of the six youngsters detected drink driving over the past week were under 22 years of age.

In one notable incident in Easter Ross a 20-year-old man was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for drink driving. His 19-year-old female co-passenger and supervisor - as the driver was only in possession of a provisional licence - was also reported to the Procurator Fiscal for being over the legal limit. Both individuals were held in custody until their appearances in court.

Northern Constabulary launched its annual Festive Road Safety Campaign on Friday 7 December and asked people to think about how much they could lose by drinking and driving.

The Force will continue to carry out intelligence-led patrols and will be out in numbers across the Festive period and beyond to detect drink drivers, as well as those taking part in the equally dangerous practice of drug driving."

Inspector John Smith, head of the Force's Road Policing Section, said: "There may still be a perception that it is only middle aged people who drink and drive, but these figures show that that theory is well wide of the mark.

"We will target our efforts towards the younger generation and the message applies to all, Don't Risk It."

"Inexperience and peer pressure can add to the effects of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and we would urge young people to take responsibility for their actions."

He added: "We will continue to be pro-active with increased patrols across the Highlands and Islands. If people persist with this dangerous and illegal practice the chances are they will be caught and be made to face the consequences, such as losing their licence, job or even their family."

A recent Scottish Government statistic has revealed that you are more likely to be caught drink driving in the Highlands and Islands than anywhere else in Scotland. Per 10,000 of the population (in 2006/07) 32 people were detected drink driving in Highlands and Islands compared to the national average of 23.

Police will carry out breath tests on ANYONE who is stopped for a moving traffic offence and patrols will be increased throughout the four-week campaign across each Area Command.

Within Northern Constabulary Force area if you are caught drink or drug driving on a Friday you may even find yourself being locked up for the weekend.

Any driver involved in a collision, even if caused by another driver, will be breath tested. Legislation also empowers Police to require suspected drug drivers to undertake a roadside impairment test and refusal to do so results in an offence being committed.

Any member of the public who suspects someone has or is about to take drink or drugs before driving is urged to contact their nearest Police station or contact Crimestoppers 24-7 anonymously on 0800 555 111.