The dangers of drink driving on Scotland's roads will be highlighted during a nationwide initiative starting next week.
Traffic officers from the eight Scottish police forces will be focussing on drink driving during the "Let's Have a Safe Summer" campaign which starts on Monday June 14.
Police will be carrying out targeted operations on the country's roads for the two week period from June 14th until June 28th.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Drinking and driving can be disastrous at any time of year. Not only for the driver, but also for innocent victims and their families. It is simply not worth the risk.
"On warm summer evenings some drivers may be tempted to have a drink. They should be aware that even a small amount of alcohol affects driving ability and they may still be over the limit the next day, especially if they have been drinking heavily.
"Despite research showing that drinking and driving is not deemed as acceptable as it once was, there are still far too many drivers ignoring the message. That is why this initiative is important. Police will be on the lookout, but the 'Crimestoppers' hotline means anyone can report offenders to the police."
Lothian and Borders Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian Dickinson, Vice Chairman of the Association of Police Officers in Scotland Road Policing Standing Committee, said motorists who drank alcohol and then got behind the wheel were a danger to everyone.
He said: "Research has shown that on average one in every six fatalities and one in every 18 casualties in road crashes in Scotland is as a result of drink driving. For the year 2001 there were 1,190 people injured in drink driving accidents with 70 of them dying.
"This is quite a frightening statistic – however one that can be influenced by everyone. If you are on a night out and someone is contemplating drinking and driving advise them not to. They can use public transport or a taxi; just don't let them get behind the wheel of a car or other vehicle. Putting it bluntly is one drink worth someones' life, a child spending their life in a wheelchair or a friend's sight?
"If you suspect someone of drinking and driving then contact the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
He added: "Many people assume that police only concentrate on drink driving at Christmas and New Year when the festive season is in full swing but this is not the case. Drink driving is a year round problem and one that Scottish police forces are dedicated to tackling."
The Scottish Road Safety Campaign is supporting the ACPOS Summer Safety campaign. The SRSC is funded by the Scottish Executive and is Scotland's principal organisation for the development of key road safety educational resources and publicity messages. The SRSC co-ordinates and brings together various road safety organisations, including local authorities, police, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Institute of Road Safety Officers and motoring organisations.
SRSC research shows that there was a fairly prevalent view that attitudes to drinking & driving have shifted and the concept of drinking and driving was not deemed to be as acceptable as it once was. Nevertheless there were signs that most respondents believe it is 'okay' to have a couple / a few drinks and perceive this will not affect their driving ability. Some, again mainly younger respondents, who opted to drive to social events, said they have 'one or two' as they did not have as much fun without drinking alcohol. The research also found that there does not appear to be widespread understanding and or acceptability of what constitutes the legal limit.
Full details of the research will be published in the Autumn.