Police Scotland in crackdown on driving offences

The nationwide crackdown is an attempt to help make the country’s roads safer, Police Scotland said.

It aims to reduce accidents by improving driver behaviour, with officers looking out for offences such as careless or dangerous driving and using mobile phones or other hand-held devices while behind the wheel.

Other offences being targeted are drink and drug driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and not wearing a seatbelt.

Transport minister Keith Brown said the police campaign shows that such offences “will not be tolerated in a modern society”.

He said: “In Scotland, we currently have the lowest road casualty figures since records began.

“However, we are not complacent and our determination to build on this progress is matched by Police Scotland who also believe that even one death in our roads is one too many.

“This recent success is due to many influences, and we shouldn’t forget that the vast majority of road users take safety seriously. But there is clearly still work to be done.

“This Scotland-wide initiative will help keep up momentum and send out a strong message that offences such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or using a mobile phone will not be tolerated in a modern society.”

Figures published last year show 12,763 injuries and deaths were recorded on the roads in 2011, which is 575 fewer than the previous year. The number of deaths was down 22 to 186 and injuries down 553 to 12,577.

Police Scotland’s head of road policing, Superintendent Iain Murray, said the new national force was “committed to making Scotland’s roads safer for all who use them”.

He said: “Selfish and inconsiderate driving by a minority is unacceptable and officers are committed to working with communities and motorists to increase the safety of all road users. When offences are identified, officers will take the appropriate action to educate those involved.”