Crackdown on booze drivers to hit top gear

Jul 9 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

MOTORISTS throughout West Lothian are being warned to steer clear of booze and drugs as a police crackdown gets underway.

A summer road safety initiative targeting those who get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been launched in the county this week.

Officers in West Lothian are joining their colleagues across Lothian and Borders Police in the summer drink/drive campaign, a two-week campaign which will target the irresponsible motorists.

As well as conducting marked and unmarked patrols, officers will also be holding static road checks.

And they warn they will be especially focusing on 'morning after' drivers who get behind the wheel the day after a heavy drinking session.

Superintendent Alan Duncan, head of the Road Policing Unit at Lothian and Borders Police, said his officers will use all the tools they have at their disposal to catch irresponsible drivers who drive while under the influence.

And he said their methods will include hi-tec devices.

Superintendent Duncan said: “There are a variety of events taking place across the Force area at this time of year, and we are alive to the fact that this brings an increased potential for offending.

“Although one aspect of the campaign is to focus particular attention on ‘morning after’ drivers, we have in place a robust and comprehensive enforcement plan which will target roads across the Force area at all times of the day and night.

“In addition, we hope to prevent further offending by employing the use of warning letters, and by using our Bluetooth transmitter to get the anti drink/drug drive message out to people on their mobile phones.”

And in some case, police will send letters to the owners of vehicles seen and suspected of drink driving even if they have not been stopped at the time.

The ‘Curb the Danger’ letters are intended to act as a warning to those drivers that if they flout the drink driving law, they will be caught and dealt with.

Superintendent Duncan added: “We intend that through a combination of education and enforcement we can reduce offending, as well as getting the message across to the minority of motorists who continue to drink and drive that they will be caught.”

Members of the public are asked to dial 999 if they see a vehicle and suspect that the driver is under the influence.

If they have information regarding a regular drink driver, this can also be passed in the strictest confidence to the special Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.