More than 20,000 Alcohol Related Disqualifications since 2011

According to data on drink driving offences in Scotland, which was obtained through a Freedom of Information request, more than 20,000 drivers across the country have been disqualified from driving as a result of alcohol-related car offences.

In total, 21,573 were disqualified from driving in the last five years in Scotland alone, an average of 12 disqualifications a day. Of all of those who have been disqualified from driving, over 300 were from Airdrie, making it the area with the highest number of offenders. Livingston was the second worst area with over 250 disqualifications in five years.

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of drivers banned from Scotland’s roads for 12 months fell by 27%.

Drink Driving in Scotland

In December 2014, Scotland lowered the drink driving limit from 35 micrograms to 22 micrograms which has resulted in a 6% drop in alcohol-related disqualifications.

Dave Nichols, a spokesman for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “It is disappointing to see that thousands of drivers in Scotland are still drinking alcohol and then driving. Scotland took steps in the right direction in 2014 by reducing the legal drink-drive alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

“However, the high disqualification figures for drink driving related offences show that there is still a hard core of drivers who think it’s acceptable to drink before driving.

Road Traffic Offences Scotland

If you have been charged with driving over the alcohol limit or any other road traffic offence, contact our team of expert solicitors using our online contact form or call us on 0800 952 0348.