The number of motorists detected speeding during the first two weeks of the Scottish Summer Road Safety Campaign has doubled compared to the same period last year.
In the second week of the nation-wide campaign which involves all eight Scottish Police Forces tackling the three major causation factors in road accidents - speeding, drink-driving and failing to wear a seatbelt - a total of 7,347 drivers were caught speeding on Scotland's roads. Around 60 per cent of those motorists detected were found to be speeding on roads in a built-up area by operational road patrol officers. A further 2,511 drivers were detected speeding by remote and static enforcement cameras. The end of this second week brings the running total of motorists detected speeding on Scotland's roads to 12,379 compared to 6,314 last year. (Although last year's campaign was made up of a week-long education phase and a two-week enforcement phase)
Around 74 per cent of motorists - 5,449 - detected speeding were caught on roads with 30mph speed limits. In Glenrothes, two cars were caught speeding on camera within two seconds of each other on a road with a 30 mph speed limit. One motorist was driving at 67 mph and the other at 56 mph. Another motorist in Strathclyde was detected driving at a speed of 130mph on the M74 in the Motherwell area at 1am this morning, Monday 23 August 1999. In Dumfriesshire, one motorist was detected speeding at 99mph on the A75 with 9 points already on his driving licence.
Drink-driving continues to pose a threat to motorists and pedestrians on Scotland's roads with a total of 234 motorists detected driving while over the limit in the past week alone. A further 20 motorists refused to provide a sample of breath. The running total for the first two weeks of the campaign has seen 422 motorists detected drink-driving or refusing to provide a breath sample. This is an increase of 61 on the figure for the final two weeks in last year's campaign when 361 motorists were found to be over the limit or failed to provide a sample of breath.
Throughout the second week of the Scottish Summer Road Safety Campaign, there were 31 drink-related collisions on Scotland's roads bringing the running total to 56. One female driver collided with road works near to Auchterarder and a blood sample was taken which indicated she was driving while over the limit. Another male youth in the Tayside area refused to stop for the police but after being later stopped, he provided a positive breath test. Three youths in Dundee all provided positive breath tests after being detected driving an alleged stolen vehicle. Another motorist in the Greenock area provided a positive breath test after he was stopped by police. Further enquiries revealed that he was a disqualified driver and the original ban would be lifted in the next two days.
A safety-conscious pedestrian watched an HGV driver get into his truck in the Peebles area after spending the afternoon drinking. After phoning the police, the driver was stopped and provided a positive breath sample. In the past week alone, a total of 3,818 people were detected travelling in a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt, bringing the running total to 6,137. Of this figure, 3,109 were drivers of vehicles and 77 were children.
A motorist in the Fife area was stopped by police for driving without wearing his seatbelt. After further enquiry, it was discovered that the male was wanted on an apprehension warrant and was found to be in possession of a small amount of the controlled drug, amphetamine. Members of the public are still being encouraged to play their part in the Scottish Summer Road Safety Campaign by telephoning the anonymous Crimestoppers freephone number on 0800 555 111 to pass on information concerning crime on Scotland's roads.
Since the launch of the campaign two weeks ago, nearly 200 phone calls have been made to Crimestoppers with information regarding road crime. Most information is still being followed up and other details have been noted for intelligence purposes. Around 1615 hours, police received a call concerning a man who was allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol in the Edinburgh area. Within 45 minutes, police had traced the car and arrested the 60-year-old driver who provided a positive breath test.
Mr Martin Papworth, Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police (Strategic Support) and Secretary to the ACPOS Road Policing Standing Committee, said: -
"I still can't believe that so many people are willing to put the lives of others at risk by continuing to drink-drive, speed on Scotland's roads and travel in vehicles without wearing a seat belt. I am disappointed that the number of motorists detected speeding has doubled compared to the two-week enforcement period in last year's campaign. These selfish drivers are risking their own lives as well as those of other innocent people.
Police officers across Scotland have noted the above evasion of the law and will be relentless in their pursuit of any driver who continues to speed, drink-drive or drive while unrestrained."