Drink-drivers caught on city roads down 40% in ten years

THE number of drink-drivers caught on the Capital's roads has dropped by 40 per cent in the last ten years, according to new figures published today.

Despite an increase in the number of motorists stopped and breathalysed over the past decade, police chiefs are catching fewer people over the limit.

In 1997-98, 780 were caught drink-driving on the city's roads, but this had fallen to 471 by last year. Police chiefs today said the drop was welcome but warned the figures did not include the growing problem of drug drivers, or those tested at police stations instead of the roadside.

Motoring groups today welcomed the drop in drink-drivers but called for more random police stops to increase the fear of getting caught.

Superintendent Alan Duncan, of Lothian and Borders Police's road policing unit, said: "The statistics show a downward trend and that is to be welcomed. We would hope the majority of people are heeding the message when it comes to drink-driving.

"Some of our big successes have been during our festive roadside programme, when we have been able to get to speak to drivers and talk to them about the risks involved."

Statistics released by the Scottish Government show the downward trend in drink-drivers stopped by police is mirrored across the Lothians. Only East Lothian recorded an increase, up from 98 in 1997-98 to 110 in 2006-07.

Neil Greig, head of policy in Scotland for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "This ties in with the long-term trends of most other road-safety statistics in that we are seeing a steady decline.

"The concern will be if these statistics reach a plateau and we still have this hardcore minority ignoring all the warnings.

"The move last year to breathalyse anyone stopped for a motoring offence is to be welcomed, but I still think the chances of getting caught in the UK are relatively low.

"If we are to make inroads into the number of people still drink-driving I think we do need to look again at the limits. We also need to look at increasing the fear of getting caught drink-driving, with more police patrols stopping drivers."

All drivers in Scotland are now breathalysed if they are stopped for any motoring offence. The policy has been in place in the Lothian and Borders area for a number of years, but came into force across Scotland last December.

The UK currently has a driving limit of 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, unlike most other European Union countries which have a limit of 50mg.

Bruce Young, Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, said: "There is obviously a greater awareness of the problem these days but it would be interesting to know how many of those caught were either just over or well over the limit."

• www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk