Thousands of impaired drivers caught in police blitz. (Image: PA)

Thousands of impaired drivers caught in police blitz across Scotland's accident hotspots

Officers reported a rise in the number of people drink or drug driving during their operation.

by · Daily Record

MORE than 2000 motorists were caught drink or drug driving by Police Scotland in a targeted blitz on notorious hotspots.

Latest data shows 2270 drivers were snared for drink or drug-driving offences – including failing to provide a specimen – between April and June 2024.

The figures represent an increase of 20 per cent or 379 cases compared to the same period last year. Police chiefs said they are using analysis to identify optimum times and locations in a bid to put the brakes on reckless motorists.

They say every region in Scotland recorded increases with the east and west having “recorded the highest in the last five years”.

Drink or drug- driving in the west of Scotland increased 23.7 per cent or by 215 cases, while offences in the east rose by 34 or seven per cent. The north saw an increase of 130 or 26.2 per cent.

It follows data from the Department of Transport, which showed deaths on Scottish roads caused by drink drivers had tripled, with 30 people killed by motorists over the legal limit in 2022 compared with 10 the previous year.

The Scottish drink drive limit was lowered in December 2014 from 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood to 50mg and in 2019 Scotland introduced a specific offence of drug driving.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan said: “Drugs and alcohol can affect your reactions, judgment and perception of risk. If you choose to drive after taking drugs, that decision can be life-changing for you and the people around you.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said it is “allocating a record £36million to road safety in 2024-25, some of which will be used to deliver national campaigns addressing those behaviours which cause most harm”.

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