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Drink driving figures down
The number of drink-drivers detected over the festive period across the North-east has fallen slightly, Grampian Police have revealed.
The number, which are down by 11 this year, have come at the conclusion of a nationwide Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland campaign.
Figures show that 46 people have been reported locally to the Procurator Fiscal for drink-driving offences between December 3 and January 4, 2013.
This is compared to the 57 people caught over a similar period last year.
Of the 46 people charged this year, 14 were between the ages of 17 and 25 (30%) compared to 31% last year (16).
Meanwhile, three people were detected driving under the influence of drugs, a reduction of the seven detected last year.
Figures for the final week of the campaign showed a sharp rise from last year - with 20 people being caught compared to 12 last year.
Nine requests for the forfeiture of vehicles were made during the campaign, with these drivers potentially losing their vehicles at Court.
Chief Inspector Ian Wallace, head of road policing, said that any reduction was welcome, but said it was both disappointing and frustrating that so many people were still ignoring the drink-drive warnings.
He said: “The question we need to ask is why, despite all the warnings, did 49 people chose to get behind the wheel when unfit to do so, risking their own lives and those of other road users?
“Despite years of publicity and enforcement, drink drive offences remain relatively constant with, more worryingly, a steady stream of younger drivers adding to the annual levels of offending. We need a cultural change to this issue before we can hope to rid the roads of this kind of irresponsible behaviour.”
Deputy Chief Constable Tom Ewing, who is the ACPOS lead on road policing, speaking at the end of the four week drinking and druf driving campaign across Scotland said: “This year’s campaign may be over but that does not mean that police officers will be ignoring the scourge of drink and drug driving. Quite the reverse in fact, it will be part of routine night and day to look out for those who are prepared to take the risk. We will track these people down using every means at our disposal and bring them to justice.”
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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