Drink drivers be warned

Jul 16 2008 by Our Correspondant, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A THIRD of all drink drivers nabbed in the region end up in court thanks to a tip-off by the public. And one in five ends up in custody after being involved in a road smash.

However, police have welcomed statistics suggesting fewer drivers are prepared to take the risk as they launch their annual summer crackdown.

But they also point out we are now in the worst three months of the year for drink driving. They confirmed July, August and September historically see a rise in the number of people caught drink driving.

Annual figures have been falling since a high of 348 in 2006. Last year there were 300 and for the first six months of this year there have been 139 with a further three reported for driving while under the influence of drugs.

The high profile campaign, run in conjunction with the other police forces in Scotland, got underway on Monday.

Sergeant Scott McLachlan of the force’s roads policing unit emphasised the role the public plays in catching drink drivers: “We are asking the public to continue to play their part in this campaign by letting us know about those who still continue to cause a danger on our roads by driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

“The public, over the past year, have been instrumental in reporting many of the drivers caught for drink or drug driving.

“Overall figures for this year so far suggest there is a continuing fall in the number of drivers being caught after drinking. We want to keep it that way.”

Operational commander chief superintendent Mike McCormick, added: “Dumfries and Galloway constabulary will robustly deal with those we detect drink or drug driving.

“Recent figures in the region show that people continue to break the law in this way.

“The current drink driving protocol in place between the force and the procurator fiscal will continue in the meantime and will ensure that anyone caught more than twice the legal limit will not be released, but will be kept in custody to appear in court on the next lawful day.

“A number of those caught over the past few weeks have shown a complete disregard for the law, and have been two, sometimes three, and on two occasions four times over the legal limit.

“This is completely unacceptable and these people are a complete menace and very real danger on our roads in this condition”.

Anyone wanting to report drink drivers can do so on 0845 600 5701, or if they wish, anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sergeant McLachlan added: “The important thing is that they do make that call, and help rid our roads of these criminals.”