Drink drive lock-up threat

Drink drivers will be locked up, say police

A Scottish police force is threatening to lock up anyone caught drinking and driving over the New Year period.

Fife Police have said that drivers who are charged will be put in a cell until they have sobered up.

The force also plans to have more officers on the roads and outside pubs and clubs in an attempt to cut the death toll.

Chief inspector Alan Maich said: "Each festive season people are killed or injured by drivers who have had too much to drink.

"We are asking for the co-operation of landlords and others to try to get this important message over to as many people as we can. They can easily help prevent a tragedy from happening.

More officers will be on duty

"Any alcohol, even a small drink, will make someone a worse driver, as judging speed and distance is more difficult and reactions are not so fast.

"The only safe way is not to drink if you are driving and never offer a drink to someone else who is.

"After all, people do not need to mix drinking and driving, not with options such as booking a taxi, using public transport, staying overnight or arranging for someone who is not drinking to drive."

He said that, apart from risking the lives of others, many people did not seem to realise they could lose their jobs if they are convicted.

One in every seven deaths continues to be linked to drink driving.

The first figures made available from the country-wide festive safety crackdown showed 70 drink-drivers had been found out of 896 motorists tested.