Tough message for Christmas drivers

“BARELY a day goes by when we don’t catch someone driving under the influence of drink or drugs in Dumfries and Galloway”, says Inspector Bob McNay.

As Police Scotland continues with its annual Christmas and Hogmanay drink and drug drive campaign, road policing officers have upped their numbers as well as the number of check points on the region’s roads to catch those driving under the influence.

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BREATH TEST . . . over 4700 roadside breath tests were carried out across Scotland last year[/caption]

A total of 55 drink and drug driving offences were recorded in Dumfries and Galloway between December 1 and January 2 2023, with only a small decrease last year, in December 2024 and January 2025, when 54 offences were recorded.

Inspector McMay said: “Sadly, we do still see people that think they won’t get caught and chance their arm, or have the attitude of ‘I’m only going two minutes down the road’ or wake up the next morning thinking they’re perfectly ok to drive when in actual fact they’re completely unaware that alcohol and drugs will stay in their systems for a long period time.

“And sadly we do see an increase of more drug drivers being detected.

But also we now have the ability to test at the roadside of cannabis and cocaine, which means we can now detect more offences than we could have previously.

“With the introduction of the drug swipes, you no longer have to be showing signs of impairment: these devices detect the presence of cannabis or cocaine in your system, and if there is a presence then you’ll be arrested for that.”

Therefore, party-goers are being urged to leave the car at home and plan a safe way home in advance by using public transport, booking a taxi, or arranging a lift with a trusted designated driver.

The inspector added: “My message would simply be, if you’re going out for a night to enjoy alcohol socially then you need to plan ahead. You should not be going out, not knowing how you’re getting home, whether that be public transport, a licensed taxi, a private hire or designated driver.

“A night drinking does not justify losing your license or potentially taking somebody’s life by causing a collision: that’s a very high price to pay, both for the victims and for the individuals carrying out the offences.”

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CHECK POINT . . . road policing officers set up a check point outside Lockerbie[/caption]

With the Christmas crackdown in full swing, drivers locally can expect an increase in roadside breath and drug testing, with targeted patrols in the evenings and mornings after throughout the region, Inspector McNay said: “Members of public will be brought in for a roadside check just to ascertain whether they are under the influence or not. You don’t have to be committing a road traffic offence to be pulled into one of these checks, they will be sporadic and people may be brought in as part of the routine check.

“If you are stopped and you’re found to be under the influence or drink or drugs and you fail the roadside breath test or drug impairment kit you will be arrested, you will be brought into custody, and a lot of people don’t see that as a criminal offence, but drink or drug driving is that serious and you will have the handcuffs put on you, you will be brought into custody and you will be put in a police cell.”