POLICE caught 55 drivers in Dumfries and Galloway as part of their festive drink and drug driving campaign last month.
Of those:
* 19 were driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above the prescribed limit;
* 28 were driving a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled drug above the prescribed limit;
* Three failed to provide a breath specimen at the roadside;
* Two failed to provide a breath, blood or urine specimen at a police station;
* One was driving a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs;
*One was in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs;
* One was in charge of a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above the prescribed limit.
Police Scotland’s annual crackdown ran from December 1 2023 to January 2.
And the number of roadside tests carried out by police officers increased by 21 per cent compared to the previous year.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of road policing, said: “We are relentless against drivers who choose to take alcohol or drugs and put the safety of others at risk.
“The Christmas and New Year period brings a focus on this type of offending and the work carried out by officers to deter and detect drink and drug driving will continue throughout the year, alongside our road safety partnerships.
“I would like to thank everyone who did the right thing by contacting Police Scotland to tell us about potential offenders and I would encourage people to keep reporting. Intelligence-led activity is a vital part of what we do and you could save a life.
“The influence people can have on their family and friends who might be considering driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs can be crucial. We all have a responsibility to improve road safety.”
