Moray police plan summer drink drive crackdown
POLICE in Moray are urging drivers to think before they drink if they are planning to get behind the wheel this summer.
The local force is joining others across Scotland for an annual summer drink drug driving campaign, which will see an increase in the number of drivers who are stopped and breathalysed.
The Operation Taurus Initiative will be used to enforce the drink drive message.
The initiative, supported by the Moray Road Safety Group, Moray Council and Moray Alcohol and Drug Partnership, has been used in Moray for a number of years and involves high profile road checks to target offenders.
Results have been very successful with the number of drink drivers caught in Moray falling remarkably since 2008 when the initiative began despite more drivers than ever before being stopped and checked.
Inspector Scott Mann, head of roads policing in Moray and chair of the road safety group, said: "Moray Road Safety Group came up with the Operation Taurus idea because there was a high level of drink drivers in Moray and this greatly increased the risk of serious and fatal collisions in our area.
"We have a proud road safety record in Moray compared to other parts of Grampian and I will do all I can to ensure this remains the case."
The police will send multiple high visibility patrols into small areas and carry out road checks intended to deal with most vehicles on the move.
"If you are driving during one of these initiatives," he added, "there is a very real chance you could be stopped."
In 2008/09, 134 drivers in Moray were reported to the Procurator Fiscal for drink driving. By 2010/11 that had reduced to 114 despite more drivers than ever before being breathalysed.
Last year during Taurus events, 1,582 drivers were stopped and 670 of those were breathalysed. This compared to 670 and 233 the previous year.
The police are also encouraging the public to report people they know who drive after drinking or taking drugs. Grampian Police can be contacted on 0845 600 5700.
Get 'The Northern Scot' on Friday for the full story.
