More Drink Drivers Detected In Ongoing Campaign

23rd December 2013

Police in Highlands and Islands report rise in numbers of drink drivers during second week of national campaign.

Police in the Highlands and Islands are reporting an increase in the number of drink drivers detected during the second week of the festive safety campaign.

During week 2 of the campaign, which ran from 07:00 hours on Friday 13 December to 07:00 hours of Friday 20 December 2013, 14 drivers were found to be over the limit.

Divisional Head of Road Policing, Inspector Neil Lumsden said: "The message is clear and simple, don't drink and drive. Despite this message, 14 drivers have chosen to ignore this advice and put the lives of themselves and other road users at risk. 11 of the 14 drivers detected were as a result of routine checks by officers. This should send out a strong message that if you drink and drive you will be stopped and you will be caught.

"We continue to receive a large number of phone calls from concerned members of the public reporting potential drink drivers and I would like to thank those members of the public who have provided us with information over the last week.

"To those who are tempted to drink and drive, if the public don't tell us about you, officers are out there stopping cars on a daily basis and if you are over the limit we will deal with you like we would any other criminal. Keeping people safe on the roads of the Highlands and Islands is a priority and there is no place on our roads for drink drivers.”

Police are urging the public to contact 101 or at the time of an incident on 999 to provide any information on those they suspect to be drink or drug driving. Reports can also be received anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers/uk.org/. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

The multi agency Festive Drink Drive Campaign commenced on 06 December and will run until the beginning of January supported by advertising featured across TV, radio, online and in bar washrooms to remind drivers of the serious consequences and knock-on effects for them, their livelihoods and their families of drink driving.