THE NUMBER of people caught drink-driving by Tayside police over their four-week festive campaign was up almost 40% compared with the previous year.

Another 14 drivers were detected in the last week of the campaign, bringing the total to 88.

The New Year batch included a 34-year-old man who drove on the wrong side of the road in Dundee into the path of an oncoming police vehicle, which had to take evasive action.

The driver was arrested and subsequently found to be more than 3.5 times over the legal limit.

The four-week figure was 25 more than the previous year’s tally of 63 drivers. Of the total, 17 had been involved in a collision, four fewer than the year before.

The latest police figures, released yesterday, cover the week from December 26 to Monday.

A total of 11 drivers provided positive breath tests as a result of inquiries that did not involve collisions.

Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman, head of road policing in Tayside, said, “The increase of 25 people detected drink-driving over the four weeks of the campaign has taken place despite our repeated warnings about the dangers associated with drinking and driving.

“There were no fatalities but some people have received serious injuries as a direct result of these drivers’ actions.

“It is obvious that we have detected a significantly higher number of drivers who are over the limit by our targeted enforcement action.

“You do not have to be involved in a crash to be caught drink-driving.

“The majority of drivers we detected had not been involved in any form of collision.

“Several drivers were detected over the limit in the morning.

“Throughout the festive period, Road Safety Scotland promoted the dangers associated with driving the morning after drinking.

“Responsible drivers make alternative arrangements for a night out but may consider driving the morning after when they still have alcohol in their systems.”

As well as detecting drink-drivers, police officers continued to focus on all offences with potential road safety consequences, including the wearing of seatbelts, speeding and using a mobile phone while driving.

During the fourth week, a total of 30 adults were reported for not wearing a seatbelt and two children were found not to be restrained.