HC Deb 19 March 1986 vol 94 cc213-4W
Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has undertaken into drink-related driving offences.

Mr. Ancram

Research on traffic and road safety matters is generally undertaken for the United Kingdom as a whole by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, which is currently studying the background to drinking habits of motorists.

Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures, for each year from 1970 to 1985, of the numbers of drivers (a) charged and (b) convicted of drunk-driving in Scotland; and if he will give the number of breath tests conducted annually.

Mr. John Mackay

The available information is as follows. Central collection of annual data on breath tests was discontinued in 1984.

Drunk Driving†
Year Persons proceeded against Persons against whom a charge was proved Initial breath tests conducted
1970 8,983 8,767 14,709
1971 10,291 10,109 16,137
1972 10,671 10,480 18,213
1973 12,208 11,989 19,980
1974 12,928 12,689 21,487
1975 12,419 12,168 20,172
1976 10,353 10,137 17,675
1977 9,387 9,170 17,135
1978 11,337 11,086 19,905
1979 11,636 11,435 20,823
1980 12,779 12,513 20,667
1981 11,460 11,244 18,225
1982 10,666 10,429 18,622
1983 11,767 11,556 17,594
1984 12,500 12,213 N/A
1985* (Jan-Sep) 9,072 8,892 N/A
* Provisional
N/A=Not available.

+Includes driving, or being in charge of, a motor vehicle—

(a) while unfit due to drink or drugs;

(b) while blood alcohol content above the prescribed limit; and failing to provide breath, blood or urine specimens.