Festive Drink Driving Crackdown: Statistics & Safety Tips
A total of 4,427 Scottish motorists were taken to court last year for ‘driving under the influence’ (DUI) according to figures published in today’s Criminal Proceedings in Scotland report.
Although this represents a decrease on the previous year, prosecutions are still up 15% compared with a decade ago - highlighting a persistent core of motorists who continue to risk lives by driving after consuming alcohol.
The number of drivers convicted was 4,260 - giving Scotland a 96% conviction rate for DUI offences.
The figures are released as Police Scotland gets underway with its annual Christmas and Hogmanay drink and drug drive campaign, which runs until 2 January 2026. Drivers can expect an increase in roadside breath testing, with targeted patrols in known drink-drive hotspots such as Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, the Highlands, South Lanarkshire and Edinburgh.
Last Christmas, officers carried out 4,779 breath tests and 963 roadside drug wipes, resulting in over 1,300 offences detected - the highest activity levels seen in recent years.
In 2023, ten people were killed by a drink driver and 300 were injured, according to Transport Scotland. While a reduction on the previous year, the toll remains “unacceptably high”, says Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense.
“It only takes one impaired driver to devastate families,” comments Abbott. “With Scotland’s lower drink drive limit, even small amounts of alcohol can put you over the legal threshold.”
“The only reliable way to know you’re safe and legal to drive is to self-test with a personal breathalyser. Particularly the morning after a night out, when alcohol can remain in your system for many hours.”
Abbott warns that December is the highest-risk month for both collisions and enforcement.
“Police Scotland ramp up roadside checks over Christmas and Hogmanay. If you’ve been drinking, your chances of being breathalysed are significantly higher than at other times of year.”
- ends –
9 December 2025
Sources:
Scottish Government: Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2023–2024
Transport Scotland: Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2024
Police Scotland Festive Drink & Drug Driving Campaign Statistics
