Drink-drive ban hours after test pass 16 | 06 | 2011

SCOTS DRIVERS are failing to get the message about driving with drink or drugs in their system. The latest shocking incident to highlight the fact came when a 17-year-old from Stirling was caught driving with twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system only hours after he'd passed his driving test.

In another case, this time in Ayr, a driver was arrested twice in the one day for driving while high on drugs. Strathclyde Police have just released the facts that the incidents took place on June 6.

The 35-year-old driver was stopped the first time after reports of a car being hit. He was reported for driving while unfit through drugs. Later the same day, police were called out after reports of a vehicle being driven erratically.

When officers stopped the vehicle they discovered it was the same man driving the same car, but this time with a woman and children aged three and six in the vehicle.

Even more frightening, blood tests suggested the man was more impaired through drugs than the first time.

Across Scotland in the past week, 116 people have been reported for drink driving and a further 16 were unfit through drugs. Four repeat offenders were caught who now face having their vehicles seized by the courts.

"I am disappointed by these figures," Assistant Chief Constable Tom Ewing, who speaks for Scotland's top police officers on road matters, said. "They show an increase in the number of offenders caught compared to the first week of last year's campaign.

"Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is completely unacceptable. Drivers should be in no doubt — this is a serious offence and you could face a prison sentence. We will continue to patrol the roads day and night and if you get behind the wheel when you shouldn't, we will catch you."

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Jamie Edwardes