AT LEAST one motorist an hour was caught drink-driving in Scotland during a four-week police crackdown over the festive period.

Figures released yesterday revealed that drivers caught behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs rose slightly — from 750 to 770 — compared to the same period last year, the equivalent of 27 drunk drivers charged every day.

There was widespread disappointment at the overall upward trend despite the hard-hitting anti-drink-drive campaign in the lead-up to Christmas, but police said that increased public awareness and the “shopping” of suspects explained part of the increase.

The biggest rise in festive drink-driving was among women, with 107 found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit across Scotland’s eight police force areas between December 8 and January 5, up almost a third on last year. Drug-driving was down slightly.

In all 720 crashes that caused injury over the period were blamed on drink-driving.

Road safety campaigners said that it was time for the introduction of spot checks, random breath tests and the lowering of the legal alcohol limit.

Opposition politicians demanded a sustained year-round clampdown on drink-driving, casualties of which have risen by a third in the past decade.

Sue Nicholson, of the RAC Foundation, said that the results were disppointing. “We have seen a steady decline in the past couple of decades and now there is a slight increase so obviously people are not getting the message.”

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