Drink drivers caught in festive crackdown
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NO fewer than 17 drink and drug drivers - including a woman more than four times the legal alcohol limit and on her way to work - have been caught in the North-east in the first week of the Grampian Police’s festive crackdown.
There were 14 males and three female drivers charged, and three applications have been for seizure of the vehicles involved.
Two drivers were unfit to drive through taking drugs.
Five drivers were caught following being reported to the police by members of the public.
Grampian Police revealed that a 38-year-old woman caught on her way to work while more than four times the legal alcohol limit came to the attention of officers in Aberdeen through her manner of driving.
Six of the offences took place in Aberdeenshire and the remainder in Aberdeen.
Chief Inspector Ian Wallace, head of road policing for Grampian, said: "We want to encourage people to make the right choice and decide against drinking and driving – an activity which can have catastrophic consequences. In week one of the festive campaign, 17 drivers have chosen to ignore our plea and to risk everything.
"I am very grateful for those people who have called us with information about drink drivers, with five of those calls leading to us stop a suspected drunk driver. I hope those calls will continue as we’re ready and waiting to act upon them.
"The safest ‘limit’ of alcohol if you are planning to drive is zero. Being just over the legal limit can still result in a driving ban at court, and sticking to soft drinks is always the best option if driving.
"Police officers will be out again this week looking for drink and drug drivers and by working together, we can all make the roads safer this festive period."
Drink or drug drivers can be reported 24 hours a day to the police service centre on 0845 600 5700, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
