Police to breath-test every driver they stop

CLAIRE SMITH
Scotsman
Jul. 18, 2007

ALL motorists stopped by police for minor offences will be breathalysed as part of Scottish police forces' summer road-safety campaign.

Normally, only those involved in an accident or believed to have been drinking face an automatic breath test. But for the next two weeks, officers have been asked to check routinely the alcohol levels of motorists pulled over for speeding, not wearing a seat belt, or even having a faulty headlight.

John Vine, Tayside's Chief Constable and chairman of the road policing unit of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), said the campaign would send a warning to motorists who still drove over the limit. "There is still a persistent minority of drivers who believe they can have a few drinks and be fit to drive," he said.

"It seems people who drink and drive believe the risks of killing, being killed or getting caught, are low. The evidence clearly points to the contrary. One in seven road deaths in Scotland is a result of drink-driving.

"Police forces across Scotland are always vigilant to drink-driving, but this campaign means you're more likely than ever to be stopped, breathalysed and prosecuted."

He said while innocent drivers had nothing to fear, police wanted to put out a strong message that drinking and driving costs lives.

"We are determined that people who drink and then get behind the wheel will be caught and dealt with," he said. "Drivers need to be aware that, even if they are stopped for a minor road traffic offence, such as a defective light or tyre, they are likely to be breathalysed."

This is one of two annual campaigns carried out by Scotland's eight police forces against drink-driving. After the last campaign, over Christmas and New Year, police reported an 11 per cent increase in the number of people caught driving over the limit. Officers said there had been a notable increase in the number of young men aged 17 to 25 being caught.

Penalties for drink-driving include an automatic ban of at least 12 months, as well as the risk of a fine of up to £5,000 and six months in prison. But a spokesman for ACPOS insisted police chiefs were not calling for the power to introduce random breath-testing.

Stewart Stevenson, the transport minister, said: "We all have seen the devastating effects caused by those who drink and drive.

"Every day, it seems people are prepared to take a risk in the misguided assumption that it either won't happen to them or that they won't be caught."