Police forces are cracking down on dangerous motorists this month, with drink and drug driving offences spiking in July.
The annual July enforcement action will see Police Scotland target drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs on the road.
The Summer Drink and Drug Drive campaign is an annual crackdown on motorists to make roads safer as part of national targets to reduce accidents on the road.
A new poll has found that 41 per cent of motorists no longer drink alcohol when they know they will be driving later in the day or the following morning.
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Police Scotland is set to crack down on drivers under the influence of drink or drugs this month
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It also found that 29 per cent have reduced their consumption of alcohol since laws were changed to make lower limits.
In December 2014, the drink-drive limit in Scotland was lowered from 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood to just 50mg.
Drivers can be slapped with a 12-month driving ban, imprisonment and a fine of up to £5,000. The offence will stay on their licence for 11 years and they could also lose their vehicle.
Hunter Abbott, MD of AlcoSense, said: “Four in 10 motorists admitted to consuming more alcohol whilst Scotland was in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Worryingly, 15 per cent say their drinking habits have remained at the same level since.
The current alcohol limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in Scotland
PA
“So it seems that, whilst most Scots are showing a far more responsible attitude towards drinking and driving, a stubborn hard core may account for the increase in alcohol-related accidents.”
Glasgow has been ranked as the drink-drive hotspot of Scotland, with a staggering 1,026 offences recorded in the last year, followed by North Lanarkshire with 745 offences.
Other hotspot areas for motorists being caught driving under the influence include the Highlands (654), South Lanarkshire (493) and the City of Edinburgh (491).
Data from the Recorded Crime in Scotland report found there were 8,638 instances of people driving under the influence in 2024/25 – an increase of 58 per cent over the last decade.
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Separate figures from Transport Scotland reported that drink-driving casualties were on the rise, with 310 in a single year, including 30 people killed by drunk motorists.
Abbott continued, saying: “When you go out socialising this summer, plan ahead for how you’ll get home and if you’ve been drinking the night before, test yourself with a personal breathalyser in the morning to check you’re clear.
“The risk of being in a fatal accident increases significantly with alcohol in your system – even if you are below the legal limit.”
In 2022, the two-week enforcement action saw 585 roadside breath screening tests carried out, as well as 152 drug tests.
Drivers face serious consequences when drink and drug driving PAThrough the process, officers detected 295 drink or drug driving offences, including one driver who was speeding at 116mph on the M8, who failed a breath test and was in possession of cannabis.
Another instance saw roads policing officers stop a car on the A89 near Edinburgh. The driver did not have a licence or insurance, and also failed a breath test.
As part of the Road Safety Framework, the Scottish Government has adopted Vision Zero measures, which aim to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Scotland’s roads by 2050.
2030 targets include a 50 per cent drop in people killed and seriously injured, as well as a 60 per cent fall in children under 16 killed or seriously injured.
This will also fall in line with the five pillars of the Safe System, namely safe road use, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads and roadsides, and post-crash response.
