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Police Scotland launch their festive drink-drive awareness campaign

With the annual drink-drive campaign launched on the 1st of December, Police Scotland have warned that officers will be out in force to target motorists over the festive period.

Minister for Community Safety, Ash Denham, Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, and Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Williams, promoted the festive campaign in Edinburgh to advise on the criminal and lifelong personal consequences of drink-driving.

James Wolffe QC stated:

“This campaign reinforces the fact that driving whilst under the influence of drink is unacceptable and brings misery and devastation to families and loved ones across our communities.”

Of the 567 drivers who failed a breath test during last year’s campaign, 39 of them (7 per cent) were caught the morning after. With more than 20,000 drivers being stopped by the police in Scotland every month, Police Scotland are pushing for motorists to plan ahead for upcoming Christmas night outs and festive events.

Repercussions of a Drink-Drive Conviction

The campaign highlighted a study where 1,001 Scots between the ages of 21-40 years old were surveyed about their thoughts on those with a conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol. The majority of respondents revealed they would be less likely to trust someone who was convicted of drink-driving because they would view them as a criminal.

Scots also believed the top three consequences of a drink-driving conviction were losing your license (81%), getting points on your licence (80%) and getting a criminal record (80%). However, the respondents did not consider personal consequences to be as important:

• the embarrassment of getting caught (67%)
• losing your job (50%)
• the cause of conflict in a relationship (45%).

According to the law, you will still be considered a drunk-driver even if you are only slightly over the drink-drive limit. With Scotland having the lowest drink-drive limit in the UK – 50mg per 100ml of blood – the campaign urges that ‘the best approach is none’ when it comes to driving and alcohol consumption.

Contact our specialist Drink-Driving Lawyers Glasgow, Scotland

If you have been charged with drink-driving or any other road traffic offence, get in touch with one of our proactive drink-driving solicitors today via the online enquiry form.