This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Drink Driving Campaign now underway
10/12/2001
Drivers were today urged not to have "one more for the road" this festive season as the Executive joined with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to launch this year's road safety campaign.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald warned against losing sight of the Spirit of Christmas by combining alcoholic spirits with driving.
The national campaign will run from December 10 to January 7. Radio adverts will air from today till January 3 on all the main commercial stations in Scotland and posters will go up in the washrooms of clubs, bars and pubs. Taxis in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen will also sport side adverts featuring the slogan "DRINK DRIVING. YOU'VE TOO MUCH TO LOSE"
The launch coincides with the publication of new research commissioned by the Executive showing that many Scots do drive after drinking. Drinking and driving: prevalence, decision-making and attitudes published today looks at attitudes towards drink-driving in Scotland.
Appealing for motorists to take more care on the roads, Mr Macdonald said:
"If you're going out this Christmas with friends, make the most of the party season, but don't chance drinking and driving. Leave your car at home and don't risk your lives and the lives of others.
"The festive road safety campaign is vital each year to remind people to drive safely and responsibly. The launch of this year's campaign coincides with the publication of a Scottish Executive research report on drink driving that highlights the extremely worrying growing numbers of young men aged between 17 and 26 in particular who choose not to heed the don't drink and drive message.
"They persist in the belief that they will never be caught - but everyone should know that Scotland's police forces are stepping up their activity on our roads over the coming weeks.
"Even a small amount of alcohol slows down a driver's reactions and impairs judgement. The consequences can be serious though - sometimes with devastating results.
"I hope that everyone will support the campaign and help to make our roads safer this Christmas and New Year."
The main findings of the research are:
- Around one in five drivers say they have driven when they thought they might be over the limit and one in twenty admit to having done so within the last year
- Around six out of ten drivers have driven a vehicle within a few hours of drinking some alcohol. Four in ten have done so within the past year
- Men, particularly younger men aged between 17 and 26, are more likely to drink before driving
- Drivers appear to be less aware of the risks of 'next day' driving
In partnership with the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, Taxi Media and Beat 106 FM are backing the campaign by running a competition that will offer listeners prizes of free weekend taxi travel for party goers over the festive period to encourage listeners to use the cab when clubbing.